Darfur rebels reach unification-deal in Addis Ababa

By Tesfa alem Tekle

August 23,2009 (ADDIS ABABA) –After days of unity talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, four Sudan’s war-torn Darfur rival factions announce agreement to put aside differences and work together as a joint front, US envoy to Sudan said.

The four factions attended the US sponsored meeting are, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) – Unity, the SLM Juba faction of Ahmed Abdel Shafi, the United Resistance Front (URF) and a breakaway group from the SLM Al-Nur led by Ismail Rifa Jara.

They factions agreed to negotiate without precondition with the Sudanese government to realize the demands of Darfur people, also they pledged to hold a meeting inside Darfur to reunite the within 60 days.

President Obama’s special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration praised the parties for reaching agreement in such a short time and says he is encouraged by the latest progress among the Darfurian rebels.

“I have witnessed more unity outcomes than I expected” Gration said, adding “I am convinced how much efforts these groups are putting together to ensure that we learn from past attempts to reunify, to bring peace and this time to make it lasting.”

The US envoy believed that the latest breakthrough would create an immense spirit among all Darfur groups for a broader unification and lasting peace efforts.

“This is a strong foundation that paves a way to the unification of all groups in Darfur.”

“The rebels’ commitment to patch up differences and act rather as unified front is a remarkable move forward in terms of easing and facilitating a negotiation secession of a unified front with the government of Khartoum,” he further said in remarks he made before to leave for Cairo.

Gration met with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss the ongoing efforts to settle Darfur conflict. He further praised the significant Ethiopian contribution in the hybrid peacekeeping force deployed in the restive region of Darfur.

The US envoy pledges that the United States will remain committed to help the Darfur rebels get united.

“We are behind this reunification effort. We will do what it takes to make it successful” he said.

The rebels will “create a committee which will continue consultation with the remaining factions of the SLM/A in order to complete the unification during a broad and inclusive assembly to be held in Darfur,” said a joint statement released in Addis Ababa.

“Following this unification, they commit to enter negotiations with Khartoum government,” the rebels stressed in the statement.

The mediation announced previously it would hold a first round of talks between these groups and the Sudanese government in Doha next September, but it seems now these talks could be delayed until the unification of these groups in one movement.

The SLM-Al Nur distanced its self from the group of by Ismail Rifa Jara who attended the talks without coordination with its leadership.

UN figures indicate that Darfur war has claimed lives of 300,000 people and displaced 2.7 million since 2003.

(ST)