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Peace accords signed in Sudan

Sudan Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, left, and Sudan People's Liberation Army leader John Garang hold up the peace protocol on Wednesday in Naivasha, Kenya. Sudan Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, left, and Sudan People's Liberation Army leader John Garang hold up the peace protocol on Wednesday in Naivasha, Kenya. (Associated PressAssociated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Chris Tomlinson Associated Press
Sudan Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, left, and Sudan People's Liberation Army leader John Garang hold up the peace protocol on Wednesday in Naivasha, Kenya. Sudan Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, left, and Sudan People's Liberation Army leader John Garang hold up the peace protocol on Wednesday in Naivasha, Kenya. (Associated PressAssociated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

NAIVASHA, Kenya – Sudan’s government and rebels signed key agreements on Wednesday, resolving the last remaining issues needed to end Africa’s longest-running war.

The adversaries signed three protocols on power-sharing and on how to administrate three disputed areas in central Sudan – all major stumbling blocks preventing them from reaching a final deal earlier.

All that remains for the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army to work out are procedural matters to end the 21-year civil war, in which more than 2 million people have died, mostly from war-induced famine.

The signing took place in Naivasha, 60 miles west of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. But the accord is unrelated to fighting in the Darfur region of western Sudan, where fighting between the government and rebels have raised fears of ethnic cleansing.

Despite Wednesday’s agreement, it could take months to determine if the diplomatic solution will translate to peace on the ground.

“We have reached the crest of the last hill in our tortuous ascent to the heights of peace,” rebel leader John Garang said after the signing. “There are no more hills ahead of us, the remaining is flat ground.”

Chief mediator, Lazaro Sumbeiywo, said the final round of talks, when the parties will work out a comprehensive deal and work out the details of implementing the accords – will begin in Nairobi next month and should conclude by July 15.

Secretary of State Colin Powell reportedly got involved Wednesday when approval for the agreements was delayed for several hours because of last-minute disputes over power-sharing.

A Western diplomat at the talks said Powell telephoned Garang to discuss the delays.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the signing will trigger a process leading to the establishment of normal relations with Sudan if certain conditions are met.