Time is running out for peace in Darfur – Sudanese adviser
February 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen, who is in charge of Darfur peace process, urged today the mediator to determine a date for direct peace talks with rebel groups who are in Doha since last month.
Initially the mediation had scheduled negotiations on framework agreement and ceasefire for January 24, but difference between the rebel groups on whether to unite their groups before talks or to form one negotiating delegation from the different groups led the mediators to delay it.
The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement – Revolutionary Forces (SLM-RF) sponsored by Libya, rejected a proposition by the Justice and Equality Movement to merge in one movement before direct talks. Another group, Addis Ababa Roadmap also supported calls for coordination without merger with JEM.
In a meeting held in Doha with the Qatari State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmad Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and the AU-UN Chief Mediator Djbril Bassole, the Sudanese official urged the mediation to consider the upcoming electoral process expressing wishes to reach a deal before April 2010.
The meetings with the mediation focused on the importance of time as a key factor for the negotiations said Ghazi, adding that he had asked them identify a specific timeframe for the talks.
“The mediation has pledged to put forth a timetable within the next two days” he further said.
The SLM-RF has expressed several times readiness to hold talks with the government stressing that it accepts to form one delegation with other rebels composed of all the groups ready to participate in the direct talks.
Ghazi said any movement has the political will can join the negotiating table otherwise the others should be excluded from the talks.
The presidential adviser stressed the need for the rebel groups to commit themselves to a specific frame time for the completion of this round and reach a final settlement before April election. He also called on the rebels to unify their negotiating position.
(ST)