Sudan, JEM-Bashar initial an agreement on Darfur conflict

March 24, 2013 (KHARTOUM)° – Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Mohamed Basher (JEM-Bashar) on Sunday initialled an agreement on three important files, announced the joint mediation.

“An Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) has been initialled today, the 24th of March 2013, in Doha”, said the statement.

The two parties will continue their discussions on issues related to “final security arrangements and political participation”, the mediation underlined.

In a framework agreement signed on 24 January 2013, the two sides agreed to hold talks on five chapters of the DDPD including , 1- compensation and the Return of IDPs and refugees, 2- Justice and reconciliation, 3- wealth sharing, 4- permanent ceasefire and final security arrangements, and 5- power sharing.

On Sunday’s partial deal, the parties agreed on the first three chapters and still have to reach a compromise on issues related directly to JEM-Bashar.

Tthe two remaining chapters concern the number of positions they will obtain in the national and regional institutions besides the integration of their troops in the Sudanese army.

JEM Bashar demands a number of ministerial posts in the central and regional governments. The group further demands special treatment and training for its commanders to ensure their enrolment in the regular army.

The Sudanese army in the past refused to integrate rebel commanders from Minnawi group as it poses very strict conditions to incorporate rebel commanders as officers in its ranks.

The mediation urges the two parties “to continue their negotiations in the same constructive spirit that has so far prevailed in order to reach a comprehensive and lasting settlement for the conflict in Darfur”.

The Sudanese state minister and head of government negotiating team Amin Hassan Omer was in Khartoum for consultations with the government before to return to Doha for talks on the two remaining chapters.

A donors conference will be held in Doha on 7 and 8 April, and the signing of a second peace agreement will encourage the participants to contribute in the different recovery and development projects.

The Sudanese government and Liberation and Justice signed the framework document for peace in Darfur on 14 July 2011. The head of the former rebel group Tijani Al-Sissi maintained the suspense until the very last minute to force Khartoum to make some concessions on the regional authority attributions.

(ST)