22 December 1999

Observing its steadfast commitment to realise lasting and comprehensive peace and stability in Sudan based on the durable responsibility of the concerned parties; Sudan Government faithfully negotiated and successfully concluded another peace agreement with a former rebel faction namely "Blue Nile Citizens Front". The respective agreement "The Blue Nile Agreement" was signed in an august ceremony took place in the Republican Palace in Khartoum on 22.12.1999. H. E. the First-Vice President Sayed Ali Osman Mohamed Taha attended the signing ceremony.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, the Presidential Adviser for Peace Affairs on behalf of the Government of Sudan, and by the tribal Chief Obaid Mohamed Abou-Shutal on behalf of (Blue Nile Citizens Front). Sayed Abou-Shutal was the former Rebel Movement Deputy Governor of (Blue Nile Region).

The Agreement provided that the two sides, responding to the peace calls, looking for the development and the upgrading of the Blue Nile state, are committed to work together for implementation of its various provisions.

The 12-point Agreement has called for the democratic rule in the Sudan and for working seriously to preserve the unity of the Sudanese people and territories and to distribute the Sudanese national wealth in a just
manner while working for the development of the less developed regions of the country.

It underlined the two parties' commitment to the Federal system of government, a system that allowed the citizens of every state to govern their own region on both the executive and the legislative levels, saying there should be a continued effort to develop it.

The Agreement said the two sides would work seriously to resolve all tribal conflicts in the region and to boost the coexistence between the ethnic groups there with the view to realize stability and to serve the national interests away from fissures and splits.

It said the two sides will at the same time deploy all the suitable means for reaching such an objective including the organization of seminars, workshops and training sessions for the local leaderships.

The agreement called for giving a special consideration to the citizens of the Blue Nile state in representation into the various federal posts so that they would work for serving the homeland. Qualifications and
labour law should be taken into account.

Pointing out the riches of the Blue Nile state the agreement provided that special attention be given for the developing the region in the animal, agriculture, forest, fisheries and energy resources.

The Agreement called for diversifying the good use of the agricultural lands in the region and that priority should be given for allocating land plots to the citizens of the region.

It urged the improvement of basic services in the region with particular emphasis given to the health and education services and that they should be expanded and improved in the rural areas. It said voluntary
organizations should be encouraged to work for the development of the Blue Nile area and to rehabilitate what was destroyed by the war in the region.

The Agreement called for the establishment of a specialized organization to operate in the Blue Nile area and whose objective would be the development of the region and attracting state, federal and voluntary contributions to the area.

The Agreement called for giving a special consideration to the local administration in the region so that these local administrations would contribute in propagating the culture of peace in collaboration with the other concerned state and federal organs.

The Agreement stipulated a general amnesty for all those who were carrying arms and returned to the homeland and that the returnees be accommodated and be employed in the various society organizations.