Sudan and JEM-Bashar sign peace deal in Doha

April 6, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Mohamed Bashar (JEM-Bashar) formally signed a peace agreement in the Qatari capital after three months of talks and one day before Darfur donor meeting.

The signing ceremony was attended by Sudanese First Vice Preident Ali Osman Taha, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Qatari deputy prime minister and state minister for cabinet affairs Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, UNAMID chief and joint mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and his deputy Aichatou S. Mindaoudou.

“This signature constitutes the outcome of intensive negotiations between the Parties in Doha, within the framework of the efforts brokered by the State of Qatar and the AU-UN Joint Mediation”, said a statement released by the mediation.

JEM-Bashar broke away with the historical group in September 2012 and announced later its intention to hold peace negotiations with the Sudanese government on the basis of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

In a speech delivered at the ceremony , Ali Osman Taha reaffirmed Khartoum commitment to implement the DDPD and to honour the agreement signed with JEM Bashar.

“We and our partners in the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) are optimistic with this signing and with the new partners. Also we are ready to implement all what we agreed”, he said.

Taha further thanked the Qatari government for all the efforts it done to bring peace in Darfur stressing they played a large role in the finalisation of the second agreement.

During the peace talks, the two sides agreed on a series of measures to enhance the implementation of the Doha framework document by the government and LJM inked in July 2011.

They also agreed to establish three new bodies to deal with nomads and pastoralists affairs, social care, and small business credits for the war affected families.

The parties also agreed on special arrangements for the military leadership of the group. But the details of this agreement and the number of ministerial portfolios and positions obtained by the group are not yet published.

JEM chairman’s adviser, Mahgoub Hussein, denounced the deal saying that his group rejects partial agreements. He further urged the international community to seek a comprehensive solution for the Sudanese problem.

The former rebel group is expected to send a an advance delegation to Khartoum and Darfur to prepare the return of its leadership.

(ST)