Darfur partners reiterate their commitment to hasten peace implementation

September 19, 2008 (AL-FASHER) — Darfur peace parties, in a meeting held today, renewed today their commitment to a deal signed in May 2006 and agreed to hasten its implementation.

The Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, and the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA) faction turned Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Minawi held a meeting in the capital of North Darfur Al-Fasher to discuss the poor implementation of Darfur Peace Agreement.

The meeting took place in the presence of members of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) and a number of federal ministers.

In a communiqué released at the end of the meeting, Taha and Minwai reiterated their adherence to the Darfur peace agreement and agreed to move forward in order to enforce it within one month maximum.

Today agreement comes three months after Minawi return to Darfur in a move to protest the poor implementation of Abuja agreement. He also voiced opposition to the conduct of the fifth census and the run of general elections next year asking to give priority to end Darfur crisis.

Also, Minawi troops clashed several times with the Sudanese army since his disaffection with Khartoum. Last week he accused the Sudanese troops of attacking his base west of Al-Fasher near Zam Zam camp where five people were killed.

The parties said they agreed to form a joint military committee to coordinate the security activities and to ensure halting of hostilities between them.

Taha and Minawi also agreed to speed up the enforcement of the constitutional aspects, and to refer the DPA to the Constitutional Commission. They also agreed to form a team of experts under the supervision of the civil service Civil Service Commission to appoint Darfuris in the Civil service institutions.

The former rebel leader has asked to include the DPA in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Sudan, and to represent his movement in the different national institutions and administrations.

Today deal on the DPA implementation also meant to reassure Minawi and to quell his fears over his political future amid the ongoing effort to hold peace talks with the non-signatory movement.

The parties “agreed to work together to convince the non-signatory movements to join the peace” says the joint statement.

Taha and Minawi also agreed to work together to secure roads, protect civilians and to deliver humanitarian aid to the displaced and affected population.

Speaking following the meeting, the Vice President said Taha said the talks provided an opportunity to clear doubts and misunderstanding, stressing that peacemaking requires patience.

He further expected that the Senior Presidential Assistant would be in his office in Khartoum in the coming days.

For his part Minawi reaffirmed his commitment to the ceasefire and Darfur Peace Agreement. Also he pledged to do his best to convince the other parties to resort to peace and realizing durable stability in the country.

The two officials also formed a joint committee to monitor the enforcement of all the decisions of the meeting. The committee will in Khartoum within one week maximum, they agreed.

In a meeting held with General Henry Anyidoho, the Deputy Head of African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur, Vice President Taha thanked the mission for its contribution to the success of the above meeting and reiterated Sudan’s commitment to work with UNAMID towards achieving peace in Darfur, solve all pending issues and clear any obstacles that my hinder its work.

The peacekeeping mission brought Minawi from his base to Al Fasher and back on board a UNAMID helicopter and provided him with all the necessary logistics and support he needed for his journey.

Minawi thanked UNAMID for its support and praised the role it played in facilitating his meeting with the Vice President.

General Henry Anyidoho, the Deputy Head of UNAMID congratulated Taha and Minawi for the agreement they have reached and hoped that such agreement would attract the non-signatories of the DPA to join in the peace process in a more comprehensive agreement.

(ST)