Darfur mediator briefs UN chief on peace process

October 16, 2010 (DOHA) – The joint United Nations and African Union peace mediator for Darfur will meet on Sunday with the UN chief in Morocco to brief him on the progress of the peace negotiations in Doha and efforts to reach an inclusive and lasting agreement ending the seven year conflict in western Sudan.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is in Marrakech where he called, in his address Saturday at the opening session of the World Policy Conference, on the international community to “assist the Sudanese in finding a peaceful way through one of the most important passages in their country’s history problems in Sudan and vulnerable countries around the world,” in reference to the January referenda in Southern Sudan.

The mediator Dijibril Bassole told Sudan Tribune from Marrakech that he will meet Ban to discuss the ongoing efforts aimed at bringing the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) to the negotiating table.

As part of the implementation of a framework agreement signed March 18, 2010, the Sudanese government and the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) are holding talks in Doha on issues relating to power sharing, wealth sharing, compensation, justice and reconciliation with the input of civil society representatives, IDPs and refugees.

“The mediation will make an assessment with Government of Sudan and LJM on October 19 to finalize the draft of a peace agreement,” Bassole said.

However, in order to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive agreement, the Joint Chief Mediator is in contact with the JEM and SLM to convince them to join the Doha process.

“Without the participation of these Movements besides the Sudanese government, LJM, and civil society, peace will remain fragile and unstable,” he further said.

“Our recent contacts with JEM and SLM leaders in Triploi and Paris as well fit into this logic.”

Bassole met JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim last week in Tripoli while he was in Libya to attend the second Arab-African summit in Sirte. He also met with the SLM leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur in Paris to discuss the peace process.

The former Burkina Faso foreign minister since his appointment in June 2008 is working on creating a common ground between Khartoum and rebel groups for a lasting and inclusive peace deal.

Backed by the UN Secretary General and the host country Qatar, Bassole however had to deal with competing initiatives pushed by the head of the peacekeeping force Ibrahim Gambari and the head of the African Union panel on Darfur, Thabo Mbeki.

Sudan said recently peace process in Doha should be achieved before the end of the year, as the country is preparing for the referendum on southern Sudan secession.

However, the mediation is working on a peace document that can be signed by the LJM rebels and in the future can serve as solid basis for a future agreement with the two other rebel groups.

(ST)