Sudan urges Darfur traditional leaders to persuade rebels to participate in peace talks

December 27, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese security chief appealed to traditional leaders in West Darfur to persuade the rebel movements to take part in the peace negotiations, he further said that some of them are employed by external forces.

Salah Abdellah Gosh, the Director-General of the National Security and Intelligence Services was on Saturday in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State to inaugurate some facilities of the security apparatus in the state.

Gosh told the tribal leaders that the government is convinced of the need to reach urgently a solution to Darfur conflict. He said that the continuation of the war in the region means further devastation and destruction. “The biggest losers are the people of Darfur, all the parties must work for peace in Darfur” he added.

Since last September the State of Qatar works with the joint chief mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassolé to organise peace talks between the government and the rebels. The move is also supported by the Arab league and the African Union as well as many donors.

However Darfur rebel movements besides their fears from the Arab support to Khartoum expressed some preconditions before to sit on the negotiating table with the government. Abdel Wahid Al-Nur asks Khartoum to implement a series of measures related to the security of the civilians and IPDs. The Justice and Equality Movement wants separate talks without the other rebels and the release of members condemned to death after an attack on the capital last May.

“The government will fight those who are keen to the war; particularly some has become staff to external forces aiming to prolong the war and the targeting of the country,” Gosh said.

The NSIS Director-General further addressed his critics to the French government saying why France, if it is serious to help efforts to reach peace, does not expel Abdel-Wahid, while it had done so with other rebels.

Also, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali Al-Sadiq stated that the message of Sudan to the world in the New Year 2009 would be that Sudanese government is willing to achieve peace in Darfur.

Sadiq further urged the international community and the countries where reside the rebel leaders to put pressures on them in order to participate in the peace process. The Sudanese official said that “Sudan and Qatar do not have the means to force those who refuse dialogue.”

(ST)