Sudan to replace Darfur top negotiator
May 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — May 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government is considering to appoint Presidential Adviser Gazi Salah Eddin Attabani as new top negotiator for Darfur peace talks.
Nafi told the party that the preparation for the upcoming elections and the political contacts with other political forces absorb all his time, Attabani said today confirming reports speculating about his appointment as top negotiator for Darfur peace talks.
The presidential adviser said he is not yet in charge with the peace talks adding such huge task needs some preparations before.
Attabani leads currently the NCP bloc at the National Assembly and the party is mulling who would replace him.
He also pledged to work in close cooperation with Nafi, First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayadrit and Senior Presidential Assistant Minni Minnawi.
In the past, Ghazi was the presidential adviser for peace affairs. He led government delegation that negotiated Machalos Agreement with the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in 2002. At the time, Salva Kiir led the SPLM delegation.
Within the dominant party, Ghazi, had been marginalized for several years because he supported dialogue with the ousted leader of the Sudanese Islamist movement Dr. Hassan Al-Turabi.
However, after the signing of the CPA in 2005, Bashir appointed him as presidential adviser. Observers considered at the time his return as move to reinforce the anti-Ali Osman Taha faction in the party.
Nafi is seen a powerful leader within the dominant party. He took Darfur file after the death of Majzoub Al-Khalifa in June 2007 who died in a road crash in northern Sudan.
(ST)