Darfur talks – The three commissions intensify their deliberations

Feb 2, 2006 (ABUJA) — Deliberations in each of the Commissions, namely: Security Arrangements, Power Sharing and Wealth Sharing, continued today Thursday 2 February 2006, in a propitious and encouraging atmosphere.

In the Security Arrangements Commission, the Sudanese Parties (the Government of the Sudan – GoS, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army – SLM/A, and the Justice and Equality Movement – JEM, have agreed on recommendations on how to fulfill their obligations in the implementation of the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement; the strengthening of the African Mission in the Sudan (AMIS); the effective functioning of the Ceasefire Commission and the Joint Commission, as well as on other Mechanisms established under the Agreement.

The Parties have in this connection agreed, among other things, that AMIS should as a matter of urgency, establish a Joint Humanitarian Facilitation and Monitoring Unit, which would meet on a monthly basis, at a high political level to examine and adjudicate on ceasefire violations.

The Security Arrangements Commission will shortly begin discussions on the outstanding complex issues of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration as well as final Security Arrangements. In this context, the Sudanese Parties have greatly benefited from the participation of new Experts and Resource Persons including those from AMIS, the UN and others.

In the Power Sharing Commission, the Sudanese Parties have considered the Progress Report from the Working Group that met over the past three days, to discuss Items 4, 5 and 6 of its Agenda – dealing with Federal System and All Levels of Governance and Their Competences; Effective Participation in All Institutions at Federal Level and at All Other Levels of Governance, as well as the Institutions of the State and Public Services.

The Commission noted that the progress made in the Working Group though encouraging has been slow, understandably so because the issues being considered are substantive and sensitive. The Commission requested the Sudanese Parties to continue their Working Group deliberations in order to complete the tasks assigned to them and to report back at 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 4 February.

In the Wealth Sharing Commission, negotiations have continued on the few outstanding issues through bilateral meetings, which have yielded positive results, especially with regard to the issue of land, Fiscal Federalism, Compensation for War Affected Persons, and a few other issues. The Commission is also benefiting from the expert advice of Resource Persons and Experts from Nigeria, the UN, Australia, the Sudan, the World Bank and others.

The Mediation remains confident that with the new level of political will being displayed by the Parties, agreements on all the issues being discussed in the three Commissions are within reach. It therefore wishes to renew its strong appeal to the Sudanese Parties and their allies to refrain from any further escalation in the fighting on the ground and all other forms of violence and tension that continue to undermine progress at the Talks.

Finally, the AU Mediation strongly urges all the leaders of the Parties, who are currently not in Abuja, to return to the Venue of the Talks without any further

delay, and to personally take charge of their delegations during this crucial phase of the negotiations.