The most influential person in the peace process in Sudan has commented that efforts to unite Khartoum and the former rebel southern group are on the right track. This good news has come despite worries emerging from the war-ravaged area of the western region in Darfur.

Lazaro Sumbeiywo, a retired Kenyan army general who led mediations in the final peace accord, said in Nairobi, "I truly believe that the peace process is on the right track. Both sides are working very hard to make peace a reality in the Sudan."

January 9th saw Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) create a desperately needed peace agreement in the Kenyan capital city – an historical deal that ended 21 years of conflict, which has seen at least 1.5 million people killed and more than 4 million others displaced from their homes.

Sumbeiywo gave a warning that the highly-publicised conflict in Darfur had diverted attention away from the north-south peace agreement, which is scheduled to b implemented next month, July 9th – 6 months after the deal was signed.

The country has been under a 6-year transitional period, at the end of which the couth is scheduled to vote in a referendum whether to split or remain united with the north of the country.

Sumbeiywo, after a meeting in Nairobi said, "The international community has so much focused on the problem in Darfur, yet the problem in southern Sudan is yet to be fully settled. We are saying that as much as you give Darfur attention, the south also needs the international community."

The deal that was agreed on 9 January should have seen a government created of national unity in Khartoum by 9th July. However, as of yet, the country’s constitution is yet to be ratified.

Sumbeiywo reported, "I am still optimistic that both sides can finalize everything on time ... there is no reason to give up hope now, but somehow, the most important thing is not the deadlines but achieving the goal of lasting peace."

The war in south Sudan began in 1983 when rebel groups rose up against the Khartoum government to end Arab and Muslim domination and the marginalisation of blacks. Since then war has raged on with the Muslim north and Christians south clashing regularly amid widespread bloodshed and violence.

Although many point at religion as fuelling the conflict, huge amounts of oil, mostly in the south of the country has played a dominant role in stirring Africa’s longest civil war.

Early in 2005, donors promised US$4.5 billion to rebuilt the devastated Sudan, but on Monday the US AID-funded Famine Early Warning System Network warned that many parts of southern Sudan faced huge food shortages and were renewing their urgent appeal for help.

In addition, tens of thousands are said to be heading home after the peace deal, but they head to an area where there are pitiful amounts of provisions to sustain them. Humanitarian and aid groups are calling for the world to take notice of the impending disaster.