Darfur rebels set conditions before aid deal
By Tume Ahemba
ABUJA, Sept 2 (Reuters) – Darfur rebels on Thursday demanded the prosecution of Arab Janjaweed militia and establishment of a no-fly zone over their territory before they sign any deal addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s arid west.
The rebels said on Wednesday they had agreed to work towards greater access for humanitarian agencies as well as setting up a joint humanitarian monitoring unit in the Darfur region, following intense mediation by African Union delegates.
But on Thursday, new demands were made by both the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and leaders of the other Darfur rebel group the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).
Over a million people have fled their homes from attacks by the Janjaweed and the United Nations estimates up to 50,000 people have been killed since the conflict began 18 months ago.
The Sudan government denies it backs the Arab militia, who it calls outlaws.
“We are not going to sign any agreement on the humanitarian issue unless the security issue has been dealt with and agreed upon,” said Ahmed Mohammed Tugod, the JEM negotiator at talks in Abuja on Thursday.
Rebels and Sudan have been trying to thrash out a deal at peace talks, brokered by the African Union in Abuja, to address what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The rebels want a no-fly zone over Darfur to stop bombings on their towns and villages which they say are carried out by the Sudanese army. They also want the disarmament and prosecution of the Janjaweed and an international human rights committee to investigate reports of atrocities in Darfur.
Talks in Abuja have been going on for almost two weeks and have passed an Aug. 30 U.N. deadline calling on Sudan to address the humanitarian situation or face possible sanctions.
Rebels and the government adjourned on Thursday and are set to reconvene on Saturday when they will continue discussions on the security conditions.
Both rebels and government accuse each other of mutual ceasefire violations. Rebels say they refuse to consider disarmament until the Janjaweed are fully reined in.
Sudanese officials leaving the end of talks on Thursday said they were still against the idea of an increased African Union military or monitoring presence on the ground in Darfur.
The African Union is keen on the idea to send additional troops to Darfur where it can monitor ceasefires and put pressure on the government and rebels to cooperate in addressing the humanitarian crisis.
“There are many people interested in putting Sudan in a very critical situation. If any African troops are attacked the fingers will point at the government of Sudan,” said minister of state for foreign affairs Najib Abdulwahab.
U.N. special envoy Jan Pronk briefed the Security Council in New York on Thursday on his findings from his visit to Darfur last month.
Aid agencies say the humanitarian situation is worsening with continuing attacks on civilians and heavy rains exacerbating disease and wreaking havoc with aid convoys.