Darfur peace process to resume in August – official

July 31, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur peace process is expected to resume during the next month of August, said the head of Sudanese government delegation to Doha talks on Friday.

The peace process should resume in August before the beginning of Ramadan, said Amin Hassan Omer, state minister for culture and sports and head of the government delegation to Doha talks on Darfur.

The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, would start during the last week of August 2009, some say it would probably begin on August 22

The mediation said it would organize in Agust talks between some rebel groups with the Sudanese government. The five rebel factions, also known as Tripoli group, had agreement on a common ground to discuss with Khartoum.

The talks would tackle, a cessation of hostilities and a framework agreement, Amin said today.

Since last February, Darfur joint mediation and the Qatari government which hosts the process organized two rounds of talks between the Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

On February 17, Sudan and JEM signed a goodwill agreement in order to build confidence between the two parties prior to the peace talks. However, Darfur rebels accused Khartoum of not implementing the signed agreement particularly the release of Prisoners of War (POWs) and the improvement of humanitarian situation.

In May, the mediation attempted to bridge the differences between the two sides but JEM reiterated it would not resume talks without the implementation of the two issues.

Amin welcomed UN Security Council resolution on the renewal of Darfur peacekeeping mission. He further underlined that the Council in the Resolution 1881 for the first time condemned the rebel refusal to join the peace process.

The Council on July 30, expressed “its strong commitment and determination to promote and support the political process in Darfur, and the efforts of the Chief Mediator,” It further deplored” the fact that some groups continue to refuse to join the political process.”

The Sudanese official further repeated Sudan’s rejection to release some 103 rebels who had participated in an attack on the Sudanese capital in May 2008. He added that the rebels should not attempt to impose any conditions before the talks.

He also said these rebels who reside in European countries continue to release bellicose statements and none of these countries do not attempt to press them to take part in the peace process.

Omer was hinting at France where is based the SLM leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and England where are some JEM leading members.

(ST)