Three other Darfur factions turn down Chadian mediation on Sudan’s dialogue
October 8, 22015 (KHARTOUM) – Three rebel factions from Darfur region Thursday declined to participate in the national dialogue conference following a meeting with President Idris Deby who tried to convince them to join the process.
following his return from Paris, President Deby met in Ndjamena with the leaders of three Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)’s factions: Abu al-Gasim Imam, al-Tahir Abu Bakr Hajer and Abdallah Yahia.
Speaking with Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena Imam said they told Deby they cannot go to Khartoum under the current conditions pointing that “the government does not offer guarantees for the implementation of the outcome of this conference”.
On the other hand, he said they pointed there is no suitable atmosphere for peace in the country and the dialogue process is dominated by the ruling National Congress Party which is “the judge and jury”.
“We do not refuse peace, but this regime is known for not honouring the signed agreements or fulfilling its obligations. So there is no guarantees that the regime will implement its outcome,” further stressed the former signatory of Abuja peace agreement.
Imam disclosed that Deby proposed to guarantee their security and safety when they said there is no guarantees for their own security.
On Saturday 3 October, the leaders of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim, SLM led by Minni Minnawi and SLM led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur also informed Deby during a meeting in Paris that they cannot participate in the dialogue process before the implementation of confidence building measures proposed by the African Union. They also insisted on the need for the pre-dialogue meeting.
Chad is affected by the burden of the Darfur conflict as the country hosts thousands of Darfurians who fled their areas in Darfur after the counterinsurgency campaign and the war crimes committed against civilians in the region since 2003.
Deby who was in the past accused of supporting Darfur rebels considers the conflict as threat for the political stability of his regime and an obstacle for the economic development of his landlocked country as he plans to use Port Sudan for the importation of goods and exportation of oil.
(ST)