Darfur crisis to remain top priority in Obama administration: US
January 9, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – The US vowed to remain engaged in the efforts aimed at resolving the five years Darfur conflict after the new administration takes over.
Jendayi Frazer, the US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs made the remarks during her meeting with a visiting delegation from the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
The JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein told Sudan Tribune that they explained to Frazer their vision for Sudan’s future.
“We told Ms. Frazer that JEM is a national and democratic political movement with goal of creating a new structure for Sudan based on equal citizenship rights that rejects any manipulation in the name of religion” Hussein said.
“JEM is looking for a comprehensive solution for problems facing the country notwithstanding our commitment to the CPA signed with our brothers in the SPLM” he added.
Hussein said that Frazer affirmed the continuing US role in ensuring that the Qatari peace initiative succeeds through the work of the Joint African Union- United Nations mediator Djibril Bassole.
“She [Frazer] also emphasized the need for Khartoum to stop its military activities and ensure protection for the displaced population” he said.
This week a JEM delegation began a visit to Washington in which they met with a number of officials including the US special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson and Timothy Shortley head of Sudan program group at the US state department.
On Monday the Sudanese First Vice President Salva Kiir met with US President George Bush in which they discussed the Darfur crisis.
Bush commended Kiir for his role in trying to bring the rebel groups together “so that there would be a more unified voice in negotiating…..a peace with the Bashir government”.
A Qatari mediation effort is underway to bring the Darfur warring parties to the negotiating table but rebel groups have voiced skepticism that it is aimed at protecting the Sudanese president from a possible arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)