Sudanese president gives Darfur file to Amin Hassan Omer
August 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir appointed his chief negotiator at the Doha peace process as the head of a new office to follow-up the realisation of peace in Darfur, days before the arrival of former rebels to Khartoum.
Al-Bashir issued on Saturday a presidential decree establishing the Darfur Peace Follow-up Office. He also appointed the state minister at the presidency Amin Hassan Omer at the head of this new organ at the level of the presidency.
The presidential decision provides that the Office will pursue the efforts of the government to achieve peace in Darfur and follow-up the implementation of Doha peace agreement.
Amin is further tasked with planning strategies for Darfur region in cooperation with the different organs, he also has to ensure the implementation of presidential decisions in the areas of peace, development and security in Darfur.
The decree did not make any clear reference to the fate of the presidential adviser tasked with Darfur file in the past period, Ghazi Salah Al-Deen. But implicitly, this move indicates he is no longer the man of Darfur in the Sudanese government.
As the presidency prepare for a ministerial reshuffle and sources in Khartoum suggest that Ghazi might be appointed as foreign minister in the new government. Also, before the signing of 14 July agreement, rumors circulated that Ghazi had resigned from his position but the president asked him to wait until the signing of peace pact.
During the peace talks in Doha, Amin was more flexible and more attentive to the need to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement with all the rebel groups. Ghazi believed that peace is realizable through the tribal leaders and the reinforcement of arbitrage mechanism for the disputes over water and pastures in the arid region.
According to Khartoum’s plans, the next stage should be mainly dedicated to the implementation of the Doha peace agreement and the engagement of Darfur civil and tribal components in the settlement process through dialogue conferences promoting reconciliation and forgiveness.
The government also believe that economic development in the region is crucial to attract the displaced civilians back to their homes and villages. Khartoum also gave JEM rebels a delay of three months to join the peace agreement. Informed sources say Khartoum will hunt non-signatories groups at the end of this period.
In Khartoum, Mukhtar Shaybo, head of LJM committee to welcome the leadership of the former rebel group said Saturday that Ahmed Abdel Shafei will lead a 20-man advance delegation that expected to arrive in Khartoum on 3 September.
(ST)