Darfur peace talks adjourned for two months
June 19, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Doha peace talks between Sudanese government and rebel Justice and Equality movement on Darfur conflict has been adjourned for two months.
However earlier May, under the request of the US envoy to Sudan Scott Gration, JEM rebels sent a delegation to Doha, the venue of the peace talks, to discuss the implementation of the goodwill agreement signed in February 2009.
The rebel delegation said the eviction of the aid groups affected the humanitarian situation in Darfur. They asked to be briefed by UN relief body on the capacity of the government to fill the caps created by the expulsion.
Khartoum refused to release JEM rebels detained and sentenced to death penalty after an attack on the capital in May 2008. But, JEM declined to discuss a ceasefire before the release the prisoners of war (POWs).
The rebel movement said Khartoum is keen to reach a ceasefire in order to freeze the conflict and to run the elections.
The mediation didn’t issue a statement about the suspension of the talks. However JEM spokesperson had told Sudan Tribune about the suspension since last Wednesday. He said the government had not been serious to implement the confidence building agreement and its delegation seeks to gain time.
The Sudanese television reported that the talks would resume within two months in August.
The government delegation last week complained from JEM rejection to agree on a ceasefire; it also asserted that the POWs should only be released according to the progress achieved in the negotiations. Khartoum further said the rebels want to release of the POWs and continue to carry out attacks on the army positions.
Also, Al-Shartay Jaafer Abdel Hakam, the spokesperson of the Sudanese government delegation said today that JEM rejection to involve the other rebel groups had led the talks to an impasse.
(ST)