JEM rebels want to include Kordofan in Darfur peace process

November 27, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) asked to extend the mandate of the peace process in Doha to cover the situation in Kordofan region.

The two states of Southern and northern Kordofan are located between the three sates of Darfur on the west and the Upper Nile, White Nile and Khartoum states on the east. Rebels from Southern Kordofan fought besides the former rebel SPLM. Also after failing to establish their own movement some rebels from northern Kordofan joined JEM rebels in 2008.

The demand was part of a ten-point letter delivered to the Joint Chief Mediator and Qatar’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs in a meeting held on 13 November in Doha to discuss the resumption of the peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebel group.

JEM rebels walked out of the peace process in Doha last May accusing the Sudanese army of violating a cessation of hostilities they had signed in February. They also blamed the host country and the mediator saying they were favoring Khartoum particularly when they organized parallel talks between the government and another rebel group.

In its letter to the mediation, JEM reaffirmed the national character of the rebel movement stressing they have “presence in a number of Sudanese regions particularly in Darfur and Kordofan”.

Earlier this month and before to send a delegation led by JEM Secretary for Kordofan Mohamed Bahr Ali Hamadein, a Massalit, the rebel group clashed twice with the Sudanese army in Kordofan besides other clashes in Darfur.

In its letter, JEM referred to a report written by the head of the African Union Panel on Sudan Thabo Mbeki saying that Sudan’s problem lies in the way of running the country from the center.

The group further said Darfur problem “cannot be solved without addressing its causes at the Center”.

JEM delegation and the mediation concluded a second round of talks in Doha just before the departure of the chief mediator Djirbil Bassole and the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud to Sudan and Chad.

The two parties will meet after the return of the mediators to Doha.

The ten-point letter expressed the group’s positions on the need to neutrality and to involve Sudan’s neighbors like, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea and Libya in the process as facilitators.

The group also reminded the need to secure a freedom of movement for its leader Khalil Ibrahim and requested a serious solution to his situation.

Khalil resides in Tripoli, Libya, after being barred by the Chadian authorities from crossing to Darfur as he had used in the past. Khartoum and Ndjamena agreed last January to implement security arrangements and to prevent border crossing by rebels from both sides.

Al-Mahmoud and Bassole discussed today with the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir the peace agreement they are working on to be signed next December with the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) but also tackled with him ways to include JEM and Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur in the peace process.

The Sudanese government said it wants to close the door of the peace talks with the rebel groups after the peace agreement with the LJM. Recently Amin Hassan Omer, head of government delegation to the peace process said they will accept to hold talks in future with rebel groups only inside the country.

However, the Qatari minister Al-Mahmoud hinted on Friday after their arrival to Khartoum they might ask Khartoum to extend the deadline.

“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 further said.

Earlier this year, Sudan said it wants to end international interferences in its efforts to achieve peace and stability in the troubled region of Darfur.

Attempting to surf on the international contradictions and rivalries between the different actors and organizations Sudan seemingly wants to favor an initiative launched by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki calling for the domestication of the peace process.

In 2006 after the signing of Darfur Peace Agreement with Minni Minawi group, Sudanese government said it would not resume talks with the rebel groups who refused to sign it. However under international pressures and efforts exerted by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Sudan accepted to reopen negotiations with the rebel groups.

(ST)