Sudan’s landmark

Sudan’s landmark peace deal with rebels that seeks to end decades of war will cost $7.5 billion, the finance minister has said — a vast sum for the poverty-stricken nation.

Under the October 3 deal between Khartoum and a coalition of rebel groups, the government pledged to fund major development projects in areas ruined by years of war, including in the western Darfur region.

“The implementation of the peace plan requires at least $7.5 billion over 10 years,” Heba Mohamed Ali Ahmed said, according to Sudanese media reports on Friday.