The IGAD show they were not short of imagination when they decided to make changes in their vocabulary. The mediators have dropped the term of “secular Sudan” for the expression of “two-speeds Sudan” : by this, they meant that, all the State institutions and government bodies at the federal level were to be neutral as regards religion. As for the SPLA, they no longer ask for the creation of a confederation before a referendum is staged on the question of self-determination, but for « a  confederation spirit » to preside over the division of power between the Federal State and the Federate States. Khartoum did not change one iota in their present position. This shows that Beshir is more afraid of Turabi’s instigations to outbidding and agitation than of an endless war in the South. The antagonists will resume negotiations in the near future, while Garang asked the Togolese President Bongo to act as mediator.

An evaluation of the achievements and shortcomings of the people to people peace process aimed at reconciling the Southern communities which took place at Wunlit, Waat and Lir, was held in Rumbek, Bahr-el-Ghazal, on 25.11.00 under the guidance and the facilitation of the NSCC (the Council of Christian Churches in non-government held areas). Delegates from the Dinka, Nuer, Murle, Anyuak, Bel, and various Nouba  agreed that those conventions brought new hope to the populations and have contributed to the improvement of the quality of life all around. The increased availability of cattle, due to more peaceful conditions, induced more frequent mixed marriages between men and women of neighbouring tribes. The Murle Pibor, an ethnic group that did not take part in any of those colloquies and who are widely perceived as one of the major sources of insecurity on the East Bank, would have finally expressed an interest in becoming part of the Lir covenant.