Sudanese church leaders in exile in Kenya have guardedly welcomed a commitment by the government of Sudan and the main Sudanese rebel group to end the country's 20-year-old civil war by December

Christian Century, Nov 15, 2003

* Sudanese church leaders in exile in Kenya have guardedly welcomed a commitment by the government of Sudan and the main Sudanese rebel group to end the country's 20-year-old civil war by December. The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudanese government agreed October 22 to a settlement alder meeting with U.S.

Secretary of State Colin Powell in the Kenyan town of Naivasha. Powell expressed optimism that a comprehensive peace deal would be reached by the end of the year. "I can see the end in sight. Based on what I have heard, I believe the final agreement is within the grasp of the parties," Powell told reporters in the presence of SPLA rebel leader General John Garang and Ali Osman Taha, the Sudanese first vice president. "Both parties have agreed to remain in negotiations and conclude a comprehensive settlement not later than December."