Consensus regarding reconstruction

There was "considerable consensus" at a donor conference, held in the Netherlands last week, on how to begin reconstructing Sudan following a definitive peace agreement, according to Dutch Development Minister Agnes van Ardenne. "The Sudanese delegations showed that as far as substantive issues, priority setting and timing are concerned, differences are small and will be easy to resolve," she said in a statement. "The participation of the government of Sudan and the [rebel] Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was of great importance," she said, adding it was the first time both sides had participated in such a meeting. Sudanese foreign ministry official Dr Mutrif Siddiq told IRIN that the participants had agreed on a "quick impact" programme for the first six months of the transitional period. This would "reassure Sudanese, especially those affected by the war, that the international community is supporting them", he said. He said the continuation of the humanitarian programme was a priority, as was rebuilding the infrastructure. The reintegration and demobilisation of soldiers was also a key issue, and would be discussed in detail at the current session of peace talks - focusing on security issues - which started in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday. Siddiq said it had not yet been decided how the aid would be coordinated, and it was not yet clear how much money donors were prepared to donate to Sudan. The government and the SPLM/A are to hold a further meeting in Nairobi in early May to discuss the details and make agreements regarding the division of labour and responsibilities. At that point, the donor community could make "concrete commitments", including the establishment of an international trust fund for donations, the Dutch foreign ministry said.