Sudan, JEM rebels resume indirect talks for peace in Darfur

March 18, 2010 (DOHA) — Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have resumed indirect talks facilitated by the Chadian government to break the deadlock and pave the way towards a peace agreement.

Last week, Presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen met with JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim in Ndjamena to discuss divergences raised after the signing of a framework agreement last month, but they only agreed that delegations in Doha should continue to finalize a ceasefire agreement.

Sudanese government and JEM are in disarray over the issues of election postponement and power sharing as the rebels rejected a package of governmental positions including one presidential assistant, two ministers in the national government besides other positions in the region of Darfur.

The indirect talks between Khartoum and JEM at the current stage deal with the power and wealth sharing. In a proposal submitted through the Chadian facilitator, the Sudanese government proposed two posts of presidential advisers, three ministers and one state minister in the federal government, one governor in Darfur, five regional ministries including three in Darfur and two in other regions, and seven members in the national parliament.

JEM, which eyes the position of vice-president, is expected to refuse the proposal of two presidential advisers. Multiple sources say Khartoum intends to attribute this position to El-Tijani El-Sissi the former governor of Darfur and UN official who accepted to chair a rebel the new rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).

El-Sissi who is from the Fur tribe, largest ethnic group in the troubled region, was requested to lead the Libyan sponsored rebel group after criticism by an American official to the Libyan initiative to reunite rebel factions saying Tripoli had only gathered rebels belonging to the minority Zaggawa ethnic group.

The rebel LJM signed today a framework agreement with the Sudanese government defining the themes to be discussed between the two parties and including a temporary ceasefire agreement.

JEM was opposed to the separate agreement but the chief mediator stressed the importance to include all the parties in the process. The rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim had rejected the participation of other rebel groups in the peace process saying they should first merge with his movement. He also said against parallel talks with them and the Sudanese government.

The Chadian foreign minister Moussa El Faki said today that the efforts led by his country aim to facilitate Doha talks. He further reaffirmed the continuation of efforts exerted by his country to overcome differences between the two parties and reach a final peace agreement.

Commenting the last week meeting between Khalil and Ghazi, El Faki said “There is a difference in some of the issues discussed (between the parties), but I am optimistic that the talks continue”.

The Chadian foreign minister was in Doha today to attend the signing ceremony of a framework agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement.

(ST)