1/1/2005
Both the Sudanese government and the southern rebels dropped the curtains on a civil war that lasted for 21 years.
In a ceremonial atmosphere in Nevasha resort near the Kenyan capital, the two last protocols in the peace agreement which include 8 protocols were signed in the presence of the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and the President of South Africa Thabu Mabeiki. All documents of the agreement will be signed in a separate celebration on January 9th.
In a speech he delivered on this occasion, Bashir announced the end of the war, adding that the happiness of the Sudanese will not be complete until solving the Darfur problem in the west of the country.
The first protocol pertinent to cease fire was signed by col. John Garang for the southern rebels and Lt. gen. Muhammad Hassan al-Fado for the Sudanese government, while the second protocol on means of implementing the peace agreement was signed by the spokesman for the rebels movement Samsoun Kuwajai and one spokesman for the government Sayed al-Khatib.
Meantime, in the first American reaction to signing the peace agreement in Sudan, Washington's ambassador in Nairobi William Bellami said the agreement will change the political scene in Khartoum and will allow a new opportunity for settling the Darfur issue.
In new York, Fred Echhard, the spokesman for the UN secretary general said that Kofi Annan welcomed the signing of the agreement which blossoms a peaceful future for Sudan where the UN is preparing to play a unique role.
In Khartoum several southern people gathered before a large screen which transmitted live the signing ceremony and chanted slogans supporting the southern rebels while others chanted long live for Sudan and for John Garang.