Darfur mediators to discuss peace process with Sudanese, Chadian presidents
November 26, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur peace mediators will meet Sudanese and Chadian Presidents in a tour they started by Khartoum where they arrived this evening before the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) next month.
Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and the Joint Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassole arrived on Friday to the Sudanese capital where they held this evening a meeting with the head of the UN Mission in Sudan Haile Menkerios to discuss efforts to end the seven year conflict in Darfur.
Minister Al-Mahmoud told reporters in Khartoum on Friday he and Bassole will meet with the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir to discuss on the peace process with him. The mediators want to know what the government is ready to deliver to the rebels who ask for the establishment of one region in Darfur and a position of vice-president in the federal government.
During a meeting held in Doha on 7 November, Al-Mahmoud and Bassole requested Al-Bashir to make some concessions to the rebels particularly on the power sharing file to make peace attractive not only for the negotiating LJM but also for the two other rebel groups: Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement.
The meeting with Bashir is also expected to tackle JEM demands for the resumption of the peace talks particularly the free movement of its leader Khalil Ibrahim who is currently in Libya. In addition, the mediation would probably brief him about their contacts with the SLM leader Al-Nur who is conducting a series of consultations in Nairobi with his group about the peace process.
“We are in a race against time to solve (Darfur) problem as soon as possible,” said the Qatari minister when he was asked if a lasting peace deal will be signed before the end of the year as the Sudanese government requests.
“We recommend what we think is appropriate and it is up to the parties to decide,” Al-Mahmoud said, hinting that they may speak about the extension of the talks with the President Bashir.
The visiting delegation is scheduled to visit the three states of Darfur for meetings with the representatives of the IDPs, traditional leaders and local authorities. The local component is seen crucial by the mediators for a successful implementation of any peace agreement signed with the rebel groups.
CHAD
The mediators also will visit Chad to inform the President Idris Deby about the peace agreement to be signed with LJM and their ongoing meetings with JEM rebels. Ndjamena brokered last February a framework agreement between Khartoum and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement led by Khamil Ibrahim.
Chad and Sudan agreed last January to deploy a joint force along the border between the two countries and since work closely to prevent rebel groups from both sides to cross the border. Qatar accepted since last June to host Chadian rebel leaders in Doha as Sudan and Chad organized the repatriation of the rebel troops to Ndjamena.
Presidential adviser in charge of Darfur file, Ghazi Salah Eddin flaked by the chef of the Sudanese intelligence Mohamed Atta Al-Moula met today with President Idris Deby in Ndjamena to brief him on the latest developments on the Doha process and the CPA implementation.
Ghazi also discussed with the Chadian President the activities of the joint force on the border area. Military officials said recently they need to extend the action of this force to cover border with Central African Republic.
(ST)