KHARTOUM, 12 August 2003 — Southern Sudanese politicians and religious figures yesterday slammed a government campaign against an east African draft peace accord to end the country’s civil war, in a petition posted on the Internet.
“The dramatic mobilization campaign (is) throwing doubt on the neutrality and integrity of the mediators,” read the document, signed by 49 people, including Joseph Ukel, leader of the (southern) Union of Sudanese African Parties and secretary-general of the domestic National Democratic Alliance.
Makuac Teny Yuok, of the pro-government United Democratic Salvation Front; former Vice President Abel Alier and leaders of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches were also among the signatories.
The petition refuted the government’s claim that the draft, drawn up by the east African body, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), paved the way for the secession of the south.
It claimed the draft did not provide an independent central bank and separate currencies for the south, but a branch of the Khartoum-based central bank.
The last round of talks in Nakuru, Kenya broke down in July when the government rejected a draft accord on outstanding issues such as power- and wealth-sharing and security arrangements during a six-year transition period, agreed last year. On Saturday, Sudanese President Omar Al-Beshir slammed the IGAD draft as “aimed at dismantling not only the present regime but the whole of Sudan.”
Peace talks between the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to end Africa’s longest civil war were due to resume in Kenya today. Meanwhile, rebels accused pro-government militias of killing some 300 civilians in Kuttum, the second largest town in North Darfur state.
“We call on international organizations to investigate what happened in Kuttum,” Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Secretary-General Mani Arkoi Minawi said. He charged that some 350 pro-government militiamen entered Kuttum on Aug. 5 after the SLM pulled out of the town.
“They killed some 300 civilians they accused of sympathizing with us,” he said.
