Rebels tell Darfur mediator Sudan not serious about peace

April 18, 2009 (LONDON) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reiterated today its rejection to resume Doha peace process until the Sudanese government implements the provisions of a confidence building deal signed last February. They further said Sudanese government not serious to reach negotiated settlement.

Sudanese government and JEM rebels agreed in a goodwill deal brokered by the joint mediator and the Qatari government to release prisoners of war and to facilitate the arrival of the humanitarian aid to stop displaced civilians as well as to stop the forced return.

Last March Sudan ousted some 13 aid groups working in western Sudan region of Darfur accusing them of cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). JEM reacted by suspending the peace process considering the move as direct breach of Doha agreement.

Khalil Ibrahim, JEM chairman told the African Union-United Nations Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé on Saturday that his rebel movement would not reconsider its decision to suspend the peace process unless the government implements the whole provisions of the Doha Agreement signed on February 17.

The rebel leader asserted the commitment of his group to reach a negotiated solution to end the six year conflict. However he stressed Khartoum could not be seen as “credible peace partner.”

He also blamed the mediation saying they failed to tend the pressure on Khartoum to implement the signed understanding.

During a meeting held in undisclosed location in Darfur, Bassolé proposed to hold a meeting with the Sudanese government in Doha soon to discuss the enforcement of the confidence building measures and to tackle on a road map for the peace talks.

He also hailed the merger of several rebel factions with JEM saying it represent a real boost to the ongoing efforts to achieve peace in Darfur.

JEM delegation included representatives of more than ten factions who merged recently with JEM.

Besides group a group led by the rebel veteran Suleiman Jamous , there were other SLM factions that merged with JEM. These factions are led by: Adam Ali Shoggar, Dafalla Almalik Bakheit, Siddaig Massalit, Abdel Salam Ahmed Issa, Mansour Araba, Arko Dahiya Bakheit Dabajo and Osman Ishaq Arabi.

Also, the meeting was attended by a Kordofanese political group, Kordofan Association Movement (KAD) that announced yesterday its merger with JEM. KAD which had been formed in Belgium in April 2006 calls for the right of development of this central Sudan province which lies between Darfur on the west and the valley of the White Nile River on the east.

Ahmed Hussein Adam, JEM spokesperson said the rebel delegation pointed out the need for an inclusive peace process. However they criticized attempts by regional countries to include some rebel factions without real presence on the ground in the peace talks.

They said these interferences aim to spoil the peace process and reflect rivalry between regional countries at the expense of the cause of Darfur people, Adam emphasized.

Libya sponsored last month an agreement between five rebel factions to join Doha peace process with one delegation. The common grounds agreement was signed in Tripoli on March 15 between SLM-Unity, United Resistance Front (URF), SLM led by Khamis Abdallah Abakr, JEM-Idris Azraq faction, and SLM-Juba faction.

(ST)