Sudan’s Darfur foes ‘review developments on ground’ at AU peace talks

ABUJA, Dec 13 (AFP) — The warring sides from Sudan’s western Darfur region met here Monday at African Union-brokered peace talks to “review developments on the ground”, according to an AU official.

The meeting was the first that brought together Darfur rebels and representatives of the Khartoum government since the third round of AU talks began late last week.

The warring sides were to “review developments on the ground” and conclude “discussions on the declaration of principles which outlines the broad principles that should guide the future deliberations of the parties and constitute the basis for a just, comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict in Darfur,” said AU spokesman Assane Ba.

The Abuja talks are aimed at resolving the conflict that broke out in Darfur in February last year, when rebels drawn from the area’s mainly black African population rose up against the Arab government in Khartoum to demand an end to the marginalisation of their region and a greater share of Sudan’s wealth.

At least 70,000 people have been killed and 1.6 million forced from their homes since the outbreak of the conflict, in what the United Nations describes as the worst humanitarian crisis currently in the world.