Sudan recalls its team from Doha but says it’s still committed to peace in Darfur
December 30, 2010 (DOHA) — Sudan’s negotiating team will leave the Qatari capital but that does not means the government’s withdrawal from the peace process, said presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen in Doha on Thursday.
The move comes after an ultimatum given by President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in Nyala, South Darfur Wednesday. He also said his army would fight rebel groups in the region stressing dialogue should take place inside Darfur with those who want development.
“We have just informed the mediators that our delegation will be departing on Friday,” Ghazi said in a press conference held in Doha after a meeting with the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs and the Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole.
“The delegation will leave because it has nothing to do, but that does not mean we withdrew from the peace process, he said. He further added that they are expecting a peace document to be submitted by the mediation very soon.
Ghazi further said the government will keep dealing with the mediation and any agreement it would propose but not necessarily by keeping its delegation in Doha.
The Sudanese official who announced since July a “new strategy” to end Darfur conflict further said his government would keep seeking to end the conflict by engaging a political dialogue in Darfur.
Sudanese government initially was planning to sign a peace agreement with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and, based on this deal, to start a political dialogue with IDPs and civil society groups besides the elected institutions.
The two parties however still disagree on the power sharing file as LJM rebels want a regional authority to administrate the three states and link it with the central government. In addition they ask for a vice-president post, but the government rejects these demands.
LJM also disagrees on some aspects of the security arrangements and the amount of individual compensations: the government put on the table 200 million US dollar while the rebel group asks for 500 million USD.
The head of the African Panel, Thabo Mbeki and the hybrid peacekeeping mission UNAMID support the government’s approach as they agreed with Khartoum to play a role in this strategy.
Ghazi said the government was negotiating with the rebel groups since seven years adding that the delay in final settlement of the conflict encouraged the rebels to keep fighting in Darfur and increased the suffering of the civilians there.
He furthermore said the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) should have the courage to start direct talks with the government and stop sticking to the 10 conditions it filed to the mediation to return to Doha.
JEM rebels submitted on November 13 a 10-point paper asking the mediation to guarantee free movement of their leader, currently in Libya, to Darfur, include Kordofan in the process, and to stop parallel talks with other groups besides other demands dealing with the work of the mediation.
However, JEM since the 17 December agreed to start talks on cessation of hostilities with the government as first step towards direct talks as it had been requested by the government.
The presidential adviser in charge of Darfur file didn’t however say whether they can return to Doha to resume negotiations with JEM rebels if they announce openly their readiness to hold talks with the government.
Amin Hassan Omer, government’s top negotiator, told the press conference that his delegation will be in touch with the mediation to finalize a peace agreement with the rebels.
“We will be in contact with the mediation, even with our partners in the negotiation and we will consult with the mediation on how to make arrangements for the next few days productive and crucial to the peace process,” he said.
The suspension of negotiations with JEM stops the efforts exerted by the US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration who contributed to hold the ceasefire talks in order to secure a suitable atmosphere for the Southern Sudan referendum.
The mediation and JEM rebels will hold separate press conferences in Doha to explain their positions on Friday.
Bassole said yesterday that no peace can be achieved in Darfur without an agreement with the rebel groups and regretted the government decision to walk out of the process.
Ahmed Hussein Adam, JEM spokesperson accused the government of rejecting talks saying Khartoum was seeking military solution for the conflict. He warned that this option will increase the suffering of civilians and added their readiness to defend their positions.
According to UN agencies in Darfur, recent fighting in Darfur between the government troops and rebels from SLM- Minni Minnawi and JEM fighters forced some 32,000 people to flee their villages.
(ST)
Peter Mading
Sudan recalls its team from Doha but says it’s still committed to peace in Darfur
“Sudan’s negotiating team will leave the Qatari capital but that does not means the government’s withdrawal from the peace process, said presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen in Doha on Thursday. The move comes after an ultimatum given by President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in Nyala, South Darfur Wednesday. He also said his army would fight rebel groups in the region stressing dialogue should take place inside Darfur with those who want development”.
Now Sudan is paralysed. The limbs suffered and now the left side of the body is attacked seriously by the bacteria. It remains the right side of the body and shortly it will affect the head.Bacteria is penetrating deeply affecting all the body. It will now turn into HIV/AIDS- Cases like diahorea and vomiting will appeared soon when the South break away. Bashir is having that ability of the white blood cell. He thiink that if he still moving he believe he is healthy. You are not Healthy Mr. President. You are sick and your sickness need to be attended. And who will attend you when you are still wanted by the ICC? Is it true for Bashir to say “his army would fight rebel groups in the region?” There must be something wrong with Bashir. What will be his fate?. Is it love for power? How many children or wives does he have? Bashir should take time to pray to Allah to give him wisedom to retain Darfurian and the People of Southern Blue Nile, Angassina and the Eastern Part of Sudan by having different approach to bring peace and all in all drop Sharia law in Sudan.
OOH my dear hunting dogs. Please do not accept again to protect the Government of Bashir. Let Bashir feel it and led him take the gun and fight the Darfurian.
Deng E. Manyuon
Sudan recalls its team from Doha but says it’s still committed to peace in Darfur
It is pathetic move by the Sudanese officials. We should be very frank here that Al-Bashir’s government is not able to tackle all issues related to Darfur conflicts. There is a need for change of government after the Referendum.
Deng
Joseph Milla Simon
Sudan recalls its team from Doha but says it’s still committed to peace in Darfur
First of all it is not a suprise for this situation to happen. Bashir is not a harmfull snake as such but is surrounded by some very cunning fanatics who are neither interest in any viable political settlement in Darfur.The NCP reasons that the blow ( by signing the comprehensive peace agreement, CPA, in Naivasha ) they recieved from the hands of the Southerners under the archetect of late Dr. Garang was enough and should not be allowed to repeat itself again under their rule in any part of Sudan.
Secondly, the Darfuris are not organized in a such away that they have one vision, mision and objectives to make them a viable threat to Khartoum government. Just have alook at the number of factions they have and try to make a comparatively analysis of what they are fighting for and you will have a conclusion that this are tribal groupings without a regionalized agenda. How do you expect the Khartoum governemnt to easily sign a meaningful and lasting peace agreement with such a tribal groupings?. Any Darfuri who has rational thinking will agree with me on the above point.
They should learnt from Mini Minawi’s experiences. After being in the Khartoum government for four years holding a big position with lax tasks,excommunicated in major government decisions and humaliated here and there, he was left waiting for unmeaningful charges and draged into prison never to be hard of again. Thanks for the existant of the government of Southern Sudan and his swift action, he is now in Juba breething fresh air.
What the darfuri did recently in London ( the signing of the peace accord unifying all the factions), should have happened long time ago. By now they would have achieved a lot politically and militarily and this would have made their position stronger in face of NCP in Doha. Just an example, While a unified SPLM under late Dr. Garang was negotiating with the NCP in Naivsha, Garang ordered SPLA forces to slapped Bashir at the face to make him focus on the negotiation by capturing Kapoata and Torit. NCP new this was not a movement to play a monkey game with and he signed a serious peace agreement now leading to the separation of the South from the neocolonial yoke of the Khartoum regime.
Now that the Doha is over, Darfuri should rethink strategically if they what to achieve their right. Unite, be focus and you will see NCP hand you an attractive political will for discusion that might envetually see you smell freedom.
Peter Elia Kuzee
Sudan recalls its team from Doha but says it’s still committed to peace in Darfur
If you dont wants peace,and killing is your objectives,you will be kill like what you are doing.
Time:23:59:
2011am.