Darfur rebel JEM rejects postponement of Abuja talks

KHARTOUM, Aug 13, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has described the African Union’s (AU) resolution, to postpone the Abuja talks to the first week of October instead of 24 August, as a wrong decision.

Chief mediator Salim Ahmed Salim (L) and African Union (AU) secretary general Alpha Konare (R) attend a summit on Darfur crisis in Abuja. (AFP).

Ahmad Nugud one of JEM’s top negotiators told Al-Ray al-Amm that the AU took the wrong path in making this decision as it was necessary that the AU discussed the matter before making the decision.

He pointed out that it was the right of any side to ask for a postponement but before making such decision it was necessary to consult with the other negotiating parties to agree upon a new date.

He went on to say, however, that JEM would continue with the negotiations at any time, before adding that JEM had not been officially informed by the AU on the postponement but they heard it from the media.

The Sudanese government chief negociator to the Abuja talks Majzoub al-Khalifah, also said the government rejected the AU’s decision to postpone the Abuja talks between the government and the Darfur rebels, which were scheduled to resume on 24 August.