Peace returned; Africa rejoiced.
President
Nimeiri appointed Abel Alier to be President of the High Executive
Council for the Southern Region, and Vice- President of Sudan. Alier, a
lawyer, had held several portfolios in the Nimeiri cabinet. President
Nimeiri also appointed Joseph Lagu, the ex-leader of Anyanya, to be
Commander of Sudanese army of the Southern Region with the rank of
Lt-General. Indeed it was Lagu who signed the peace agreement with the
Nimeiri government.
Next, President Nimeiri embarked on overhauling his previous
socialistic economic policies. Most of the nationalised businesses were
de-nationalised. New laws came into force aimed at attracting private
investors. The economy took the shape of a pro-Western mixture of state
and private enterprise. Nimeiri's veer to the West cost him
estrangement from Col. Gaddafi, his former friend. The two leaders have
since dwelt on exchanging barrages of bitter words.
On the other hand, President Nimeiri had allied Sudan closely with
Egypt. In 1982, Egypt and Sudan signed an economic, social and
political charter aimed at eventually federating the two countries.
Among others, the agreement included the removal of tariff
restrictions, the establishment of a mutual investment fund, and
freedom of movement between the two countries.
National Movements and New States in Africa