Sudan pledges to involve UNAMID in exchange of prisoners
February 23, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel-Basit Sabdarat, the Sudanese Minister of Justice, pledged today to involve the UNAMID peacekeepers when future batches of prisoners are exchanged with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
The move came after a short visit by the Emir of Qatar who was in Khartoum to discuss the signed accord brokered by his government and to tackle the Sudanese Chadian relations.
The minister of justice briefed a delegation from the hybrid peacekeeping mission about the release of 24 rebels by his government yesterday from Kober Prison where they were detained.
According to the official SUNA the release has been effected without the participation of the Red Cross or the UNAMID, which had proposed their service.
Sabdrat told a UNAMID delegation and representatives from the Joint Mediation Support Team (JMST) that the release of rebels involved in an attack on the capital last May “was a goodwill gesture from the Government of Sudan, in honour of the Emir of Qatar’s recent visit.”
He further stressed that both the UNAMID and the JMST would be “involved in the release of next batches of prisoners as the talks progress.”
JEM spokesperson, Ahmed Hussein Adam yesterday told Sudan Tribune that they were in contact with the UNAMID on the exchange of prisoners as it was provided for by the goodwill agreement.
He further said they were verifying the list of names published by the government and added that the prisoners ought to be delivered to JEM as should be done in such case through an agreed neutral body.
JEM offered at the signing of the confidence building agreement in Doha offered to release 21 members of the Sudanese army. However they are not yet release due to logistical reasons according to the rebel group.
(ST)