Sudan rejects Darfur rebels’ plea for holistic talks

August 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has rejected Darfur rebel demand for a common political platform to negotiate the different crises in Sudan instead of the existing separate peace processes.

Amin Hassan Omer, head of Darfur peace follow-up office, on Wednesday told the joint peace mediator, Mohamed Chambas, that his government refuses “any talk about creating new platforms”, stressing government’s commitment to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Chambas was accompanied by the European Union special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Rosalind Marsden who attended the week consultations meeting organised with the rebel groups in Arusha, northern Tanzania.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan and Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) told the mediation and representatives of international community that “a holistic and comprehensive approach to resolving the problems facing the country is both necessary and urgent”.

The rebels therefore “stressed the need to harmonise and coordinate the existing mediation mechanisms in order to achieve a coherent and integrated approach”, said a statement on the outcome of Arusha consultations the mediation released on 27 August.

Omer, in statements to reporters following the meeting, spoke about the absence in any evolution in the position of the non signatory rebel groups towards the peace process in Darfur.

“The meeting was an opportunity for the joint chief mediator to know the views and ways of thinking of the rebel groups which did not witness any positive development to serve the goals of peace”, he said.

He further reiterated the government’s refusal to establish one platform for the conflicts in Darfur, Blue and South Kordofan as it is demanded by the rebel coalition Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) which includes rebel movements in Darfur and the SPLM-North.

The Sudanese official who chaired the government negotiating team to the Doha process pointed out that they welcome the participation of all the rebel groups in a comprehensive constitutional dialogue together with the other political forces.

Chambas has to meet with rebel groups within 60 days for consultations.

Arusha meeting was only attended by two groups. The SLM faction led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur refused to participate in the meeting, asking to invite all the SRF forces.

(ST)