African mediators hope to sign enhanced ceasefire by end of April
April 1, 2006 (ABUJA) — The African Union (AU) said on Saturday that it hoped to reach a formal ceasefire deal between Sudanese government and Darfur rebel groups by the end of this month.
Noureddine Mezni, spokesman of the AU mission in Sudan, told Xinhua by telephone from the Nigerian capital Abuja where the Darfur peace talks is being held that a AU mediating panel was working to finalize a draft of the Enhanced Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement (EHCA).
In spite of the signing of a ceasefire agreement on 8 April 2004, the insecurity reigns and continued fighting never stopped in Darfur.
“The committee for the security arrangements is working on outstanding points in order to map out a final agreement satisfying the two warring sides,” al-Mazni said.
AU and UN military experts will hold consultations with representatives of the Sudanese government and the rebel movements on Saturday to discuss the draft agreement, he said.
Jan Pronk, the UN envoy in Sudan, is also expected to arrive in Abuja on Saturday to hold talks with AU Chief Mediator Salim Ahmed Salim on accelerating the negotiation process.
A resolution adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council on March 10 called for the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels to reach a comprehensive peace agreement by the end of April, a deadline which seems very difficult to meet.
Mezni blamed disagreement on sharing power and wealth for obstructing the conclusion of a final peace deal on time despite efforts by the AU, the UN, the Arab League and the European Union to accelerate the peace process.
(Xinhua/ST)