Sudan’s government and rebel leaders gathered on Saturday to drumming, singing and dancing as they signed a landmark peace deal aimed at ending decades of war in which hundreds of thousands died.
“Today we have reached a peace agreement. We are happy. We have finished the mission,” Tut Gatluak, head of the South Sudanese mediating team said, shortly before the signing of the deal that happened a year after the peace talks began.
Minister and leaders of governments from neighbouring countries as well as Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia attended the ceremony in Juba, the capital of neighbouring South Sudan.
“This signing of this agreement today is a significant day today for Sudan and South Sudan … it means an end to suffering of many Sudanese people in different corners of Sudan and outside Sudan,” said Mini Arko Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement which is one of the parties to the deal.
“Obviously, economic challenge in Sudan is one of the challenges. Also fragile political situation is one challenge but I am sure we will achieve the peace we want … there is need for tolerance,” he added.
Entertainers from South Sudan and Sudan performed for the guests, while members of the rebel groups from Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile marched, singing songs of joy and carrying banners bearing the images of their party leaders.
Ending Sudan’s internal conflicts has been a top priority of the transitional government in power since last year’s overthrow of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir amid a popular pro-democracy uprising.
The peace talks were mediated by South Sudan whose leaders themselves battled Khartoum as rebels for decades before achieving independence in 2011.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said not every group was present in Juba.
“While this deal is been called the final agreement, there are major groups that are yet to sign an agreement with the transitional government,” Morgan said.
“The biggest concern is the implementation of the security arrangement because there are concerns about splinter groups,” Morgan added.
