JEM leader arrives to Doha amid deadlocked peace talks
March 26, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The chairman of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) arrived Friday in Doha, venue of the peace process, as the negations with the government are stalled over its demand for election postponement and power sharing issues.
In a first time, the rebel group asked to stop separate talks with another rebel group, Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), recently formed and led by the former governor of Darfur El-Tijani El-Sissi. JEM had spoken about the need to unite the rebels in one movement.
The rebel movement, also, demands to delay the general election scheduled for April 10. JEM says signing peace implies participation of Darfurians in this major political event, stressing the need to register may people there who are not currently registered.
Khalil Ibrahim arrived today to Doha accompanied with a big delegation including military commanders and representatives of women, student sectors. Following his arrival, JEM leadership council began a meeting to discuss the different issues related to the peace process.
Khalil ended a two day meeting with the Sudanese presidential adviser, Ghazi Salah Al-Deen over the ceasefire agreement and the power sharing.
The parallel meetings in the Chadian capital between Ghazi and Khalil were initiated to break the deadlock in Doha and forestall other obstacles.
But, the stagnation of the talks in Doha and the repetition of Ndjamena meetings led to stop anything in Doha as the delegations are informed on the outcome and issues agreed in the Chadian capital.
Sources from Ndjamena said the rebel leader resisted mounting pressures from his cousin President Idriss Deby who is now re-becoming a close ally to Khartoum. It was also reported that Qatar, the host country, is angered by practical transfer of discussions to Ndjamena.
Khalil during the latest meeting in Ndjamena refused to finalize a ceasefire agreement unless he reaches an agreement on the power sharing with the government. Khartoum rejects to give his group a vice-presidency and to postpone elections.
Today a media service, SMC, close to the Sudanese intelligence and security services, reported that JEM violated twenty times the truce signed on February 23.
Omer Adam Rahama, spokesperson of the Sudanese government delegation in Doha told the SMC that ceasefire violations by JEM in the region would not lead to peace in Darfur. He further said that JEM does not want to commit its self to the framework agreement which includes the temporary peace fire agreement.
(ST)