Mbeki calls on Darfur rebels to work for ceasefire

June 16, 2009 (EL-FASHER) — The African Union eight-member Panel on Darfur (AUPD), led by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki, today, called on Darfur rebels to work toward a ceasefire in Darfur to achieve peace.

The Panel which includes two other former heads of state – Burundi’s Pierre Buyoya and Nigeria’s Abdulsalami Abubakar, met on Tuesday with the commanders of the Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM/AW) in the town of En Siro, about 125 km north of El-Fasher in North Darfur.

The Chairman of the AUPD Panel, Mbeki called on all movements to work together towards a ceasefire in order to address issues of security which would enable the people to leave the camps and return to their homes.

In a workshop held from 18 April to 4 May 2009 in Switzerland, the SLM-AW reiterated that peace talkss with the Government could not take place until the disarmament of the pro-Government militias, removal of new settlers from the land of the internally displaced persons and a cessation of offensive military actions.

In a report to the UN Security Council on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that meeting demonstrated a broad consensus within the movement in rejecting the Doha talks and negotiations with the Government without the fulfillment of these preconditions.

The African Panel was set up by the AU Commission early this year to look into the issue of the Darfur and find ways of resolving the conflict.

This is their third visit to the region where they have met with senior government of Sudan officials, civil society organizations and representatives of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The visiting delegation was briefed by the commanders of the SLM/AW about the security and humanitarian situation in the region as well as challenges faced.

The panel also discussed steps taken to unify the rebel movements in Darfur and the security situation. On their part, the commanders expressed willingness and support to work with the Panel as well as all stakeholders in order to achieve peace.

The AUPD will conduct hearings across the three states of Darfur starting on 20 June.

They also held meetings with the residents of En Siru including the native administration, health practitioners, teachers, women groups and youth leaders.

Mr. Mbeki pointed out that the purpose of the visit was to listen to the local population in order to make recommendations of what needs to be done to end the conflict in Darfur.

(ST)