AU Mediator meets with the Sudanese Vice-President

April 18, 2006 (ABUJA) — The Second Vice-President Ali Ousman Taha, yesterday evening, briefed the Head of the African Union Mediation Team, Sam B. Ibok, on the progress so far made in his series of consultations with the Darfur rebel groups.

There were also exchanges on matters relating to the ongoing negotiations on an enhanced Ceasefire Agreement and final Security Arrangements, developments in Chad and on how best to sustain the current momentum for a speedy conclusion of the Talks.

The AU has set a deadline of April 30 for the Abuja talks to yield an agreement.

According to the AU spokesperson Noureddine Mezni, Vice-President Taha pledged his continued support to the AU Mediation, adding that he remained committed to help expedite the negotiations.

The Sudanese Vice-President only recently had two consultation sessions with the AU Special Envoy and Chief Mediator, Salim Ahmed Salim.

Also yesterday, Taha received in audience Minister Ablassé Ouedraogo and Ambassador Boubou Niang, who have been coordinating the Wealth Sharing negotiations in Abuja. There was an exchange of ideas on how to overcome the outstanding issues in the draft Wealth Sharing Protocol.

The fighting in Darfur has left more than 180,000 dead over the last three years – most from disease and hunger – and displaced another 2 million from their homes. Seven rounds of talks in Abuja since August 2004 have yet to yield a breakthrough to end the fighting.

(ST)