Sudan say ready for direct talks with Darfur groups

January 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government said it is ready to start negotiations with rebel groups to end the seven years conflict in the Darfur region as delegations arrived to the Qatari capital where talks will begin on Sunday.

The Joint Chief Mediator had invited the two parties for direct peace talks for the second time since February 2009. Last year, only the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) took part in the talks; the other rebel groups rejected Doha as a venue for the process.

However, recently JEM suspended its willingness to participate, citing the ill implementation of a goodwill agreement by the Sudanese government. Also, Libya, Egypt and USA sponsored efforts to reunite the rebel factions who now see Doha as a worthy site.

The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur holds consultations with the chief mediator but did not yet make a decision on its participation; the security of civilians remains a major concern to settle before their participation.

JEM, which wants the talks to be limited to the Abuja parties, asked the mediation to exclude the Tripoli and Addis Ababa groups considering they would topple the talks and create chaos.

The Sudanese government is “open to negotiation and is ready for it” said Ghazi Salah Al Deen, Sudanese Presidential Adviser following his arrival to Doha today. He further added that the talks depend on the participation of all the parties to the conflict and not only one party.

The Sudanese official was referring to JEM’s rejection of the other rebel groups.

Amin Hassan Omer, the head of government delegation to the talks said JEM is still in the process of developing conditions adding that the government rejects any conditional negotiations.

“If JEM put conditions now they would put new condition at each stage” (of talks).

The Sudanese envoy at Doha however told the official SUNA about ongoing efforts to push JEM rebels to take part at the negotiating table and sit alongside the other groups.

Sudanese Ambassador to Doha, however told the official SUNA, about ongoing efforts to push back JEM rebels to take part at the negating table and sit alongside the other groups.

Late in the evening the government delegation and the mediator held talks while additionally he is expected to meet the JEM delegation before the opening session.

The mediation had announced it would focus during this round on two issues before carrying the discussions further: a ceasefire and framework agreement on the peace process between the stakeholders.

Amin Hassan Omer said in remarks published in the Sudanese capital that there is no way to involve the people of Darfur in power now through a power-sharing agreement, because the election is coming. The Sudanese officials said in the past also that the government could change its mind and stop talks with rebels over the resolution of the Darfur conflict.

Such statements, according to JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam, mean that the political process is destined to fail because Amin referred to the government’s unwillingness to negotiate on all the contentious issue. The JEM official said this in statements published in Doha where he is now.

He also stressed JEM is serious about the peace talks adding that any failure would impact negatively on the humanitarian situation in Darfur and political stability of the whole country.

Following a normalization process engaged with Ndjamena, the Sudanese government carried a series of bombing operations on JEM positions in West Darfur hoping to put pressure on the rebels and push them to sign a peace agreement.

(ST)