Sudan, former rebels to accelerate Darfur peace implementation

December 16, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government and the signatories of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on Sunday agreed on Sunday to accelerate the implementation of the 2006 deal in order to re-establish security and stability in the troubled region of Darfur.

Khartoum and a faction of the SLM led by Minni Minawi signed Abuja agreement in May 2006. Some breakaways factions from the SLM and JEM joined the deal later on. However the former rebels blame the government for freezing the implementation of the deal.

The Mechanism for the DPA implementation headed by the presidential assistant, Nafi Ali Nafi, the parties agreed to undertake practical steps on the implementation of the clauses that have been reviewed in the meeting related to the security arrangements and the sharing of power and wealth as well as the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue.

With regard to the security arrangements, the meeting has stressed the need to speed up the work of the Joint Technical Committee and to implement practical steps through the Executive Committees which encompass representatives of the regular army and the former rebels.

On the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue the parties have agreed to lead consultations via a joint committee on how to give a new impulsion to the joint dialogue.

They also agreed to continue dialogue on the steps to be taken for the execution of the question of division of wealth and power.

Last November Al-Tigani Abdullah, one of Minawi’s senior aides told Sudan Tribune that Khartoum is dragging its feet on the implementation of the DPA.

“It is almost two years since we signed the DPA and the Sudanese government has implemented only 2% of it. Even the best agreement in the world will not bring peace if one of the sides does not honor it” Abdullah said.

Minawi also suffers from the defection of his commanders who rejoin the non-signatories rebel groups. The SLM-Unity is described by many analysts as “Minawi SLM faction” without Minawi.

(ST)