Sudan and rebel JEM agree to sign declaration of goodwill

February 16, 2009 (DOHA) — Sudanese government and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) will sign tomorrow a declaration of goodwill expressing their willingness to engage in peace process, three years following JEM’s rejection of Abuja deal in May 2006.

The negotiations between the two sides which started last Tuesday were deadlocked over the issue of the release of prisoners of war that JEM considered as crucial part of confidence building measures prior to sitting at the negotiating table.

“There has been great progress… and we now have an agreement that may be signed,” said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim Al-Thani who announced the agreement to the media today in Doha.

Ahmed Hussein Adam the official spokesperson of the rebel movement confirmed the agreement saying they agreed with Khartoum on the principle of POW’s release. He added that the implementation of the measure would be gradual and scheduled during the peace process.

“The parties commit themselves to the exchange of POWs and the release of detainees and convicts and detainees in relation to the conflict as part of the process of confidence building and the peace process. The host country will communicate with the parties to work towards the completion of detainees’ release,” said the text of the agreement reached by the two parties.

Yesterday Amin Hassan Omer, a member of the government delegation said his government may agree to study the issue during the talks. However JEM made it clear that without an agreement on this key issue they would not engage the peace talks.

Many observers suggest that JEM is keen to secure the release of the POW’s primarily because they include Khalil Ibrahim’s half brother, Abdel Aziz Abu Usher, who was sentenced to death after his arrest in a raid by the rebel group on Khartoum in May 2008.

Also Khartoum hoped to use Usher to place pressures on the rebels and feared with his release to lose leverage.

JEM leader however told the government delegation during a meeting held today to keep his brother in jail for as long as they want but to release the other members of his group, Ahmed Hussein Adam said.

Besides the release of prisoners the parties agreed not to impede the humanitarian aid and to stop the forced returns of IDP’s and halt the harassment of civilians in Darfur.

The parties are expected to meet within two weeks to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement and a framework agreement.

JEM had asked to include the halt of aerial bombardment on civilians but it seems that it would be part of a ceasefire agreement.

“This agreement is a first step that could lay the necessary ground to build a genuine peace process,” said Ahmed Hussein Adam, adding “but the real indictor of the government seriousness remains the implementation of this deal”.

He also added they wanted to send a signal of hope to the civilians in Darfur who suffered from the bloody conflict in Darfur since six years ago.

While observers encourage the Doha peace process they agree that there is a need to involve the other main rebels to avoid a partial peace agreement as Abuja deal has proven the need for a comprehensive deal.

The Qatari Prime minister reaffirmed today there are other parties in Sudan to be involved in the negotiating process.

The other main rebel group led by the founder of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur declined to participate in the Doha talks asking Khartoum to enforce a series of measures destined to protect civilians before to take part in the peace process.

Also other rebel factions denounced the process of Doha while the former rebel group that signed Abuja agreement accused the mediators of promoting JEM rebels.

Nonetheless, the success of this first step is seen as the result of the efforts exerted by the Qataris officials who played a preponderant role during the one week talks. They convinced JEM leader to attend the talks and discussed many pending issues directly with the Sudanese president Al-Bashir to overcome deadlocks.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have died and more than 2.7 million have fled their homes since rebels in Sudan’s western Darfur region rose up against the Khartoum government in February 2003.

(ST)