Sudan parties agree on new government

KHARTOUM - Former rebels and Sudan's ruling party have agreed on a power-sharing government, with Khartoum saying it would keep the critical energy portfolio in the oil-producing country.

"Now the government formation is completed," Information Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat said.

The new government, only possible after a January peace deal ended a 21-year-long civil war, was delayed by a tussle between the former rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the ruling party over control of the energy ministry.

An official from the SPLM had earlier said there had been an agreement to rotate the energy ministry every two years between the SPLM and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

But Sabderat said there was no such deal, adding that the NCP was keeping the defence and energy ministries. He did not give other details.

A Sudanese official in Nigeria, where the government and Darfur rebels are holding peace talks, said Lam Akol from the SPLA was named the new foreign minister.

Sudan's north-south civil war lasted more than two decades and killed around 2 million people, mainly from disease and hunger. The conflict was complicated by oil.

Sudan currently produces over 300,000 barrels a day and plans to produce 500,000 bpd by the end of the year.

Many of the oil wells are in the south and the SPLM has said oil revenue is vital for developing the south, where around 90 per cent of people live on less than a dollar a day.

The formation of the unity government was due to have been completed by August 9 but was delayed by the death of former SPLM leader John Garang in a helicopter crash on July 30.



- REUTERS