Darfur leaders converge on N’Djamena for talks with Chadian leader
July 7, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Leaders of the armed groups in Darfur, signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, arrived in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, on Thursday for talks with Chadian President on ways to stop the fighting in Sudan.
Chad is hosting tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict in Darfur, while hundreds of fighters from Chad’s Arab tribes are participating alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s ongoing war.
Sudan’s western neighbour is the country most affected by the ongoing conflict, particularly since Chadian authorities intercepted dozens of vehicles carrying smuggled weapons seized from Sudanese army warehouses.
Abdelaziz Abdel Karim Adam, the official spokesman of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council (SLM-TC), confirmed the arrival of the Darfur peace leaders in N’Djamena at the invitation of Chadian President Mohamed Idriss Deby.
The purpose of the meeting is to explore ways to end the war in Sudan, with particular attention on the Darfur region.
In statements to Sudan Tribune, Adam emphasized the consequences of the war’s continuation in Darfur, stating, “Further displacement and refuge towards the borders of Chad will undoubtedly have a negative impact and pose serious challenges to Chad in terms of humanitarian and security concerns.”
The meeting’s central objective is to “stop the war in Darfur and Sudan to preserve lives and maintain regional and international peace and security,” he added before underscoring Chad’s pivotal role in achieving conflict resolution.
Attending the meetings with President Deby are Hadi Idris, Chairman of the SLM-TC; Tahir Hajar, Chairman of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces; Abdallah Yahya, Deputy Chairman of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces; and Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement. Minni Minnawi, Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), is expected to arrive with North Darfur Governor Nimir Abdel Rahman on Friday.
Minnawi, in a video released on July 6, drew attention to the deteriorating situation in the West Darfur state, comparing it to the crises witnessed in Rwanda and Burundi, albeit without explicitly mentioning genocide. He further called for an intra-Sudanese process facilitated by the region without international involvement.
Within three months, nearly 3 million people have been internally displaced or crossed borders due to the conflict in Sudan. The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) reports that approximately 200,000 people have sought refuge in Chad, while another 500,000 have fled to neighbouring countries, primarily Egypt and South Sudan.
FFC leaders head to Ethiopia
In a related development, a delegation from the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) is scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa on Friday after a meeting with the Ugandan leader on Wednesday.
The FFC leaders, including the secretary-general of the National Umma Party who joined them in Kampala, will hold meetings with Ethiopian and African Union officials to support regional and international efforts to end the war and initiate a political process to resolve the ongoing crisis.
The leaders of pro-democracy political and civil forces recently left the country due to severe criticism from military leaders, who accuse them of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The FFC leaders stated that their travel abroad aims to engage neighbouring countries and the international community to bolster efforts to end the war in Sudan.
Following their visit to Addis Ababa, the delegation will fly to Kenya, the head of the IGAD mechanism to end the Sudanese conflict.
The IGAD countries have established a quartet committee comprising Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan to address the ongoing conflict in Sudan. However, military leaders have expressed their rejection of Kenya’s chairmanship of the mediation panel.
(ST)