Abuja — After two years and one month of negotiations in the nation's capital, Abuja, a peace deal has finally been signed between the largest rebel movement - the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM -A) faction led by Minni Minawi and the Sudanese government. The sealing of the peace deal took place at the Aguda House of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A twist was, however, added to the drama at the signing when towards the end of the ceremony, a splinter group from the Abdulwaheed Al-Nur faction of the SLM led by Dr Abdulrahman Musa opted out of the peace deal. The Al-Nur group had earlier walked out of the ceremony demanding the issues in the final agreement be reviewed.

The signing was delayed by mediators led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, African Union chairman, Sasso Nguesso, American Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, UK Minister for International Development Hilary Benn, representatives of Canada, EU, France, Arab League, UN, Netherlands, Norway, Egypt, Italy and Libya as they tried to get the two factions led by Al-Nur and the Justice and Equity Movement (JEM) to sign the dotted lines.

The rebel factional movements posted no deal, alleging that the agreement was skewed in favour of the Sudanese government and therefore does not protect their interests.

The deal was not easy in coming as the negotiations lasted for almost 24 hours, from about 9.00pm Thursday night to 5.00am Friday morning, resuming by 9.00am and ending almost by 8.00pm yesterday.

President Obasanjo, as chairman of the negotiations made personal commitments and efforts, holding consultations and presiding over group meetings geared towards getting a deal signed. He along with

Nguesso, Zoellick, Benn and other international partners sat all through the meeting. It was not till noon yesterday that the Minawi group opted to come on board, thereby breaking the ranks in the rebel movement.

Al-Nur had earlier sat at the designated table for him and his group awaiting the ceremony. President Obasanjo left his seat, walked up to him and whispered in his ears. As the President was getting to his seat,

Al-Nur and his group left en masse. Minutes later, Minawi arrived the hall, sat down and the signing formalities started.

President Obasanjo, kick starting the event called it "the defining moment in the history of Darfur." But he lamented that the participants were fond of shifting the goalposts noting that the negotiations have been "long, prolonged, intense, full of excitement and frustrations."

He warned that unless there is the "right spirit, the right attitude and the right disposition, this document will not be worth the paper it is written. This is what should guide the implementation of this agreement. Those who feel unable to sign today, we will continue to appeal to them, to address them to see reason why they need to sign on behalf of the people they claim to lead."

President Nguesso said it was a historic moment, which offers opportunity to settle not just the Darfur crisis but also the crisis of confidence within the countries bordering Sudan.

Zoellick said that the sealing of the peace deal presents an "opportunity for a better future for amelioration of the terrible situation there."