Darfur Darfur peace talks between government and rebels to start in January – mediation
December 13, 2009 (PARIS) — Darfur mediation is scheduled to hold a workshop for rebel groups and civil society followed by direct talks between the government and rebel groups next January, the mediation said today from Doha.
The Joint Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassole, told the UN Security Council on November 30 that mistrust between the warring parties in Darfur caused by the six year of conflict stirred the slow progress in talks and made difficult the conclusion of a ceasefire.
Bassole was referring to the confidence building deal signed between the Sudanese government and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in February 2009. The rebel group had suspended its participation in the talks after Khartoum refusal to free some hundred fighters, as government demands the signing of a ceasefire before their release.
Following a meeting held in Doha Saturday, 12 December between the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and the joint mediator, “the Mediation agreed to accelerate the peace process by convening meetings in Doha.” Said a statement issued on Sunday.
The process, according to the mediation, will start with a workshop for the rebel groups and the civil society from 19 to 21 January. The gathering intends to promote and strengthen the social cohesion on the ground.
The meeting will be followed by direct talks between the government and the rebel groups starting from January 24.
JEM rebels following a series of meeting with the mediation last November agreed to resume talks with Khartoum despite their demand for the improvement of the humanitarian conditions and the release of their fighters from the Sudanese jails.
Also some rebel groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)-Revolutionary Forces are expected to join the negotiating table. The SLM –led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur refuses to attend the talks but continues conducting consultations with the Joint Mediator on security conditions.
Speaking before the 15 members of the Security Council the chief mediator stressed the need for a cessation of hostilities but also said “will encourage the parties to agree and establish a coordination body with UNAMID (to) facilitate the free and safe passage of people and goods across Darfur.”
However, he also said that the ongoing efforts to unify rebel factions or reluctance to join the peace talks should not slow down the peace talks.
“The first phases of the peace process must address the urgent problems and the hardship faced by Darfurian population,” the Mediation said on Sunday.
It further urged the parties to speed their efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities and the create “a conducive environment for the negotiations.”
The mediation will hold an International Consultative Workshop at expert level on
18 January 2010, to discuss the technical aspects of the peace process.
(ST)
telfajbago
Darfur Darfur peace talks between government and rebels to start in January – mediation
Who are these rebel groups and the civil society that want to secure bread -earning positions for themselves in moribund regime.Since the entire masses of Darfur a long with SLM/AW which enjoy the overwhelming support in all Sudan rejected the Doha talks.Any Peace brought with out the consent of the people,it will be like an alien transplants in a foreign soil and is doomed to fail or it will hang on the air.People of Darfur have proved beyond doubt that,they are true masters of their cause affairs and no power on earth can claim to be smart to bush them against their on interests. But let these Qataris who are blinded to secure their interests with Khartoum waste their resources and time chasing the mirages of illusive peace.