Mediator warns Darfur violence jeopardizes peace process

February 1, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The joint mediator, Djibril Yipènè Bassolé, has urged the warring parties in Darfur to halt the ongoing escalation of violence on the ground saying it could hamper peace efforts.

Following fighting between the former rebel SLM faction led by Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the later clashed with the Sudanese army in several positions in southern and northern Darfur.

Bassolé “urges all parties to refrain from any acts that could jeopardize the on-going peace efforts and, instead, to engage constructively in the search for solutions.” Said a statement issued by his office today from Addis Ababa where is currently.

He further called on the rebel groups to consult each other and discuss their common concerns “together to create the conditions for peace negotiations.”

While the former mediation team had spent in vain a lot of time to create common grounds between the rebel movements and to reunite them; Bassolé and the Qatari government hold direct contacts with the influential groups to create joint positions on the different issues.

Since his appointment last June, the former Burkina Faso foreign minister is tirelessly conducting extensive consultations with the parties involved in the six year conflict. But the lack of communications has generated criticism or to focus on the Qatari contacts which aim to facilitate his mission.

(ST)