JEM delegation to fly soon to Qatar for talks on Darfur peace

November 16, 2008 (LONDON) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said will send a delegation to Qatar for hold more talks on a peace mediation that the Arab Gulf country seeks to sponsor. However, the rebel movement said they are still didn’t take a final stance over the initiative.

Ahmed Hussein Adam told Sudan Tribune that a delegation would soon fly to the Qatari capital Doha for further consultations on the Qatari efforts to achieve peace in Darfur. “The delegation will carry JEM’s vision on the whole peace process but also it is keen to listen to the Qatari officials” he added.

The Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affair Ahmed Bin Abdalla Al- Mahmoud met with JEM chairman Khalil Ibrahim, in a location close to the border with Chad on Thursday November 6. The meeting discussed the initiative and JEM point of view over the talks.

JEM chief and the Qatari official agreed to send a delegation to Doha for further talks. Adam told Sudan Tribune last week they want to be associated in the preparations of the peace talks.

However the rebel spokesperson said that the Doha meeting comes within the framework of contacts they undertake with the different concerned parties. He disclosed that a JEM delegation met today with the joint chief mediator Dijbril Bassolé.

Adam said they didn’t yet determine a final stance on the Qatari efforts but as peace lovers they have to explore all aspects of the initiative.

Last year JEM boycotted Sirte talks on Darfur peace saying that the mediation team has failed to pick the real powers involved in the conflict saying that small rebel groups were invited.

At least 300,000 people have died in the western region and more than two million more fled their homes since ethnic minority rebels rose up five years ago drawing a scorched earth response from the military and allied militias.

(ST)