Government, SPLM/A sign memorandum of understanding

The Sudanese government and the southern-based Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday in which they agreed to conclude a final peace deal by the close of the year. "The parties declare their commitment to expeditiously complete negotiation - on ceasefire agreement and implementation modalities so as to conclude and sign the comprehensive peace agreement no later than 31 December 2004," the memorandum said. The Sudanese state minister in the office of the president, Yahya Hussein Babikar, signed on behalf of the government, while the SPLM/A main negotiator, Nhial Deng, signed for the SPLM/A. The 15 members of the UN Security Council who were meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, each signed as witnesses. The chief negotiator in the Khartoum-SPLM/A talks in Kenya, Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo, signed on behalf of the IGAD facilitators. The Council, which is discussing the situation in Sudan, is expected to adopt a resolution on the country. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a quick signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A, saying such a deal would catalyse efforts to resolve the conflict in the western region of Darfur. "There is no time to waste," Annan told the Council in Nairobi. "The speedy conclusion of the North-South talks would not only curb the further spread of conflict to other parts of the country, it would also serve as the basis and catalyst for the resolution of existing conflicts." The conflict in Darfur pits government troops and militias allied to it against the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equity Movement, who are fighting to end what they have called marginalisation and discrimination of the region by the state. The conflict has displaced an estimated 1.45 million people and sent another 200,000 fleeing across the border into Chad. The war between the SPLM/A and the Sudanese government in the south erupted in 1983 when the rebels took up arms against authorities based in the north to demand greater autonomy. In May, they signed six key protocols, covering power-sharing arrangements and the administration of three contested areas during a six-year interim period that will precede a referendum to determine whether the south would remain part of Sudan.