Sudan entered the twenty-first century mired in several conflicts. These conflicts have led to huge loss of life and have severely debilitated the country's capacity to rebuild and develop. The 2005 comprehensive peace agreement between the North and the South, and the recent ceasefire between the Sudanese government and the rebels in the Darfur region, present a window of opportunity for Sudan to meet its future developmental and social priorities. Sudan's debt servicing capacity is constrained by fluctuating oil prices; high committed spending for its regional peace agreements and the need to implement critical poverty and reconstruction programs. The authorities have asked the IMF to facilitate the country's accession to debt relief program under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.