AU Press Release: Chad’s govt, Darfur rebel JEM agree to cooperate

AFRICAN UNION

Following an exchange of views held on the margins of the Sixth Round of the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur and under the guidance of the Chairman of the African Union, H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as in consultation with the Special Envoy and Chief Mediator, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, a delegation from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was received in Ndjamena, on Saturday 24 September 2005, by H.E. Idriss Deby, President of the Republic of Chad, Head of State, in the presence of Representatives of the AU Mediation and Chadian co-mediation, led by Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, AU Special Representative in the Sudan.

The JEM delegation was composed of :

– Bahar Idriss Abugarda, Vice President ;

– Ahmed Mohamed Tugod, Secretary for External Affairs, Chief Negotiator to the Peace Talks ;

– Dr. Abdallah Eltom, Secretary for Strategic Planning and Training ;

– Khattab Ibrahim Widdah, Deputy Secretary for Information.

After an indepth examination of the obstacles impeding the Peace process on Darfur and a thorough review of past misunderstandings between Chad and JEM, the two Parties agreed as follows :

1. The reaffirmation of the role of Chad as a neutral and impartial co-mediator in the Darfur Peace process ;

2. The commitment of Chad and JEM to cooperate with a view to settling, through dialogue, current and any future problems ;

3. The commitment of Chad to facilitate the free movement, in full security, within its territory, of the JEM Representatives on official assignments related to the Peace process such as the meetings of the Joint Commission, the Abuja Peace Talks, etc. ;

4. The commitment of Chad and JEM to closely cooperate with the international community to find a speedy and durable solution to the humanitarian crisis facing the people of Darfur. In this regard, they reiterated their commitment to cooperate with AMIS and AU Mediation in order to rapidly restore peace in Darfur ;

5. The commitment of Chad and JEM to refrain from all actions capable of undermining the Darfur Peace process ;

6. Chad and JEM decided to abide by all the commitments agreed to in this meeting.

The delegations of the AU and JEM expressed their heartfelt thanks and profound gratitude to President Idriss Deby for having promptly accepted to receive them and for his readiness to continue to extend his precious support in the Darfur Peace process.

Chad and JEM expressed their appreciation to the Chairman of the AU, President Olusegun Obasanjo for his continuing efforts to facilitate a negotiated peaceful settlement of the conflict in Darfur.