AU’s Mbeki and JEM leader discuss peace in Darfur
September 20, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Chairman of African Union Panel on Darfur, Thabo Mbeki, held a series of meeting with the leader of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to discuss ways to end the seven year conflict in western Sudan.
The High Level Panel on Darfur is established by the African Union since March 2009 to tackle the situation in Darfur and to make propositions on how best to accelerate the advance towards peace, reconciliation and justice in Darfur.
However the former South African leader is accused by the rebel groups of seeking solutions that could allow president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to escape his indictment by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide in Darfur.
“Mbeki met with JEM chairman three times on Saturday and Sunday,” said JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam who added that meetings, held in Tripoli where resides the rebel leader, were “transparent” and the two parties exchanged views on the different issues.
“They discussed the current situation in Darfur, the peace process, humanitarian situation, security, the internally displaced persons and JEM prisoners of war held in Khartoum,” Ahmed said.
JEM leader criticized during the meeting Khartoum’s new strategy in Darfur saying it is a new form of genocide. He urged Mbeki to mark his distance from the new stratgy for peace in Darfur.
Mbeki met with president Omer Al-Bashir today in Khartoum and briefed him on his trip to Libya. He also discussed the implementation of the peace accords signed in 2005.
The rebel group suspended its participation in the Doha peace talks since last May to protest attacks by the Sudan Armed Forces despite a cessation of hostilities deal signed by the two parties.
The peace process is expected to restart in Doha within nine days, the mediation announced today.
GRATION
Meanwhile, Scott Gration Obama special envoy for Sudan discussed today by telephone with JEM secretary for external relations, Gibirl Ibrahim, the peace process and humanitarian situation in Darfur.
Gibril told the American envoy that peace in Darfur remains the ultimate goal of their movement, but regretted that the ruling NCP is not prepared to reach a just peace.
The rebel official further denounced the new strategy to end Darfur conflict adopted recently by the Sudanese government saying Khartoum is preparing for a new war.
PROUDFOOT
The spokesperson said a delegation of his movement composed of Gibril Ibrahim and Tahir El-Faki speaker of legislative body of the rebel group and his person discussed the political situation in Sudan with Douglas Scott Proudfoot, director of, Sudan Task Force, at the Canadian foreign ministry.
JEM officials condemned during the meeting the recent violence against civilians in the restive region by the government militia.
They also renewed JEM support to the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan and urged to observe its implementation in the determined date.
(ST)