Sudan to release 24 Darfur rebels

February 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese minister of Justice announced the release of 24 Darfur rebels in the coming days. The announcement was made at the end of the one day visist of the Qatari Emir who was in Khartoum to discuss the implementation of a goodwill accord brokered by Qatar earlier this week.

Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat told reporters in Khartoum that the move comes in implementation of Doha agreement signed last Tuesday between his government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

“The president has ordered the release of 24 prisoners related to Darfur cases,” he said.

The Qatari Emir convinced the Sudanese president earlier this week to accept the release of prisoners as one of the confidence building measures.

During the negotiation of the goodwill deal, Nafi Ali Nafi rejected the measure telling the mediators he had no authorities to include the rebels’ demand in the agreement. But the Qatari Emir phoned to the President Al-Bashir to allow his delegation to include it in the accord.

The minister didn’t specify if the decision concern JEM rebels but he stressed that it aims to promote and consolidate peace efforts and comes in recognition of the role of Qatar in this regard.

JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim announced on Tuesday February 17, the release of 21 government officers and soldiers they detain. Yesterday

During the negotiations of the goodwill agreement, JEM said it was crucial to include the issue on the confidence building measures. After speculations that the rebels insisted to secure the release of the half brother of JEM leader, Khalil Ibrahim told the Sudanese side they can keep his brother in jail till the signing of peace agreement.

The minister of justice said the names of the released prisoners would be published later.

Las August, Sudanese courts sentenced to death over 38 rebels detained after a raid on the capital in May 2008. JEM at the time said the sentences were unconstitutional while the UN envoy to Sudan Ashraf Qazi, voiced concern over the legal proceeding and urged the appeal court to review the death sentences.

(ST)