Sudan and JEM agree on peaceful resolution to Darfur conflict

February 17, 2009 (DOHA) — The Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have signed an agreement of good intentions following one week of meeting in the Qatari capital, pledging to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the six-year conflict in the western Sudan region of Darfur.

Amin Hassan Omer inked the Agreement of Good Will and Confidence Building for the Settlement of the Problem in Darfur on behalf of the Sudanese government while Gibril Ibrahim affixed the signature of the JEM.

According to the signed document the two warring parties declared “their intention to join forces in order to end the conflict” peacefully. They also agreed to adopt a “comprehensive approach” and to address the “root causes” of the crisis.

The government and JEM said they would take the necessary measures to create a conducive environment for the talks including halting the arrest of IDPs, facilitating the access of humanitarian aid, and exchanging prisoners of war and those sentenced to prison for being “culpable and arrested due to the conflict.”

JEM also announced that it will unilaterally release 21 POW’s from the Sudanese army.

The two sides committed themselves to work out a framework agreement including a cessation of hostilities and other “bases for talks on the detailed issues.” The signatories said peace talks should not exceed “a maximum period of three months.”

The signing ceremony for the goodwill and confidence-building document was attended by the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabor Al Thani, Sudanese Presidential Assistant Nafi Ali Nafi and head of the Justice and Equality Movement Khalil Ibrahim. Also present were ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and ambassadors of Sudan’s neighboring countries.

The signing of the goodwill agreement comes after tough negotiations on the issue prisoners of war and detainees that the rebel group said was crucial to include from the start. But Khartoum had refused to discuss the issue at this stage, fearing to lose leverage if it accepted to free detained JEM members, among whom is the half-brother of Khalil Ibrahim.

In a press statement issued today, the joint mediator Djibril Bassolé said that developing a lasting solution to the conflict “demands inclusive dialogue.” He pledged to continue to consult the other parties in the conflict.

The mediation has never exposed a clear vision for the talks but has mainly approached JEM and the SLM founder Abdel Wahid Al-Nur. Sporadic meeting were held with some factions.

However, the mediators said today in a press conference held following the signing they would work to ensure the implementation of the accord and tour the neighboring countries to mobilize regional support for the deal, which is considered by many analysts as a good move that nevertheless will likely not end the ongoing conflict in the troubled region.

JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam told journalists that the rebels are working on the ground to guarantee wider support for the deal from rebel commanders who are not part of his movement. He added they want to mobilize adherence of the civil society to the process and include it in the process.

With regard to the other rebel movements, Adam said his movement is favorable to the inclusion of other movements but said they are “against chaos and small groups that could be used to impede the peace process.”

Following the end of the signing ceremony, the head of the two negotiating parties Nafi Ali Nafi and Khalil Ibrahim were received by the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who congratulated them for reaching the agreement.

In Khartoum the peace delegation met with the Sudanese president to inform him about the outcome of the signed agreement. The Sudanese foreign Minister Deng Alor praised the accord saying it constitutes a good step toward building confidence between the two parties.

(ST)