Second Darfur accord signed with rebels in Doha

March 18, 2010 (DOHA) — The Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed a framework agreement on Thursday in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar similar to the one signed last month between Khartoum and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

The LJM chief El-Tijani El-Sissi and the Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani led the signature ceremony. The LJM is an umbrella of rebel groups which has quickly rushed to unite in the wake of last month’s truce between Khartoum and JEM.

The Sudanese 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha who attended the ceremony praised the role of Qatar and affirmed his government’s willingness to work diligently towards peace and implementing all the agreements signed.

He described today’s move as “important and necessary” and urged other groups to join in a subtle reference to the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur who lives in Paris.

Taha also dismissed any talk about delaying elections as JEM has insisted but promised that Darfuris will get full representation in the government and noted that most of Darfur registered for voting.

The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hamad bin Gasim bin Gabr Al-Thani sitting with Taha lauded today’s achievements adding that a final peace agreement with JEM and LJM is imminent pending few details.

He further said that the signing of the cease-fire was with JEM’s knowledge and that Qatar had accepted the mediation with the full support of the Arab League.

The joint United Nations (UN) – African Union (AU) mediator Dijibril Bassole said in his address at the signing ceremony that the objective of these agreements is to pave the way for holding constructive dialogue and setting frameworks for detailed negotiations that would lead to reaching a peace accord.

Bassole revealed that a timetable was proposed by his team for negotiations with specific deliverables such as security arrangements, amnesty for the ex-rebel fighters, political participation, the administrative status of Darfur, the wealth and power sharing, compensations, the voluntary repatriation of IDP’s, and the participation of the civil society organizations.

He revealed that a second forum of civil society organizations will be held in the coming period.

Both JEM and SLM-Nur rejected the agreement today with the former saying that the LJm has no presence on the ground or political weight.

Separately a group by the name of SLM-roadmap revealed that they have agreed on coordinating with JEM and begin a process to work for uniting their ranks.

(ST)