South Sudan Peace Accords Signed 
Sudan's government and southern rebels Sudan People's Liberation Movement agreed the final chapters of a peace deal in Nairobi Friday, December 31, 2004, paving the way for a comprehensive accord ending Africa's longest-running civil war in January. They signed the final two of eight peace protocols that together constitute an overall accord ending 21 years of war. One of the final two protocols signed is a permanent ceasefire. South African President Thabo Mbeki and his Sudanese counterpart Omar El-Bashir witnessed the signing of a peace deal.