Darfur rebels trying to weaken AU’s role in talks- official

KHARTOUM, Mar 13, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The state minister for foreign affairs, Najib Al-Khayr Abd-l-Wahab, has described the call of the Darfur rebels the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for the transfer of the Darfur issue file from the African Union (AU) to the United Nations, Eritrea and the European Union as a manoeuvre and attempt to weaken the African role.

Members of Sudanese Liberation Army walk with their rifles at Ashma village 30 km (19 miles) from Nyala, south Darfur, October 6, 2004. (Reuters).

In a press statement to SUNA (Sudanese News Agency), the minister said that the responsibility for solution of Darfur problem will be the task of Africa, adding that any attempt to weaken the African role is regarded as a violation of the African consensus.

He said that Sudan government is closely following up discussions at the Security Council to issue a resolution on Sudan indicating that imposition of sanctions on Sudan would have a negative impact on Sudan and its peace process.

The two darfur rebel movements, SLA and JEM, issued a joint statement outlining their position at a news conference on Thursday evening Mrach 10, 2005,in the Eritrean capital of Asmara, where they have offices.

The African Union, which sponsors the talks, is holding separate meetings with rebels and the government in an attempt to find common ground after several rounds of talks failed last year to produce an effective ceasefire deal.