Darfur mediator urges Sudanese parties to stop fighting, sign ceasefire deal

December 25, 2010 (DOHA) — Joint Chief Mediator, Dijbril Bassole, called Saturday on the Sudanese warring parties in Darfur to stop fighting and sign a ceasefire agreement paving the way for healthy peace negotiations.

During Thursday and Friday 23 and 24 December, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and JEM fighters clashed in Dar El-Salam and Shangili Tobayi , South to El-Fasher the capital of North Darfur state. Thousands of civilians fled the areas of battles, reported UNAMID.

The two parties have just started in Doha negotiations on a ceasefire deal before to engage direct talks. The mediation asked the two parties to sign it before 31 December. However, the Sudanese government delegation did not attend a first direct meeting between the two parties on Thursday.

“The mediation expresses its profound concern about the resumption of hostilities between the Sudan Armed Forces and Justice and Equality Movement in North Darfur,” said Bassole in a statement to Sudan Tribune.

“We call on all sides to end fighting immediately and resume talks in order to sign a ceasefire agreement before the end of the year,” he said; adding “such deal is crucial to create a climate of trust necessary for the peace process”.

According to the hybrid peacekeeping mission some 14,000 people have been displaced in and around Shangili Tobayi. UNAMID and aid groups provide the affected civilians with humanitarian and limited medical aids.

The mediator further expressed alarm at the large number of people displaced by the clashes. He urged the warring parties to allow save humanitarian access to thousands of civilians and displaced trapped by the fighting.

The recent fighting in North Darfur included troops loyal to the signatory of Abuja peace agreement Minni Minnawi besides JEM rebels against the Sudanese army.

The Sudanese military spokesperson said forces of the former senior presidential assistant arrived from southern Sudan where they are based. SAF warplanes bombed since November the semi-autonomous region several times after blaming Juba for harboring Darfur rebels.

The participation of Minnawi forces in the fighting and the growing tension on the ground are seen as set back to the before 2006 situation in Darfur, as the international community focused on Southern Sudan referendum.

JEM said today Sudan’s reluctance to discuss a ceasefire would lead to a comprehensive war to topple Khartoum government which is facing rising pressures from opposition parties there.

Ahmed Hussein Adam, JEM spokesperson told Al-Jazeera TV from Doha that the government is not interested in ceasefire talks and its delegation didn’t show up to a first meeting on Thursday.

The government reportedly considers the rebel group is not serious in its efforts to reach a peace agreement.

The mediation had to delay the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebel Liberation and Justice Movement scheduled to be signed on 19 December because the government delegation refused to agree with LJM on issues related to power sharing and IDPs compensation.

(ST)