Sudan’s NCP rejects separate negotiation track with JEM

January 22, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) will not be allowed to seek its own accord with the Sudanese government in negotiations that are in isolation from those ongoing with other rebel groups, an official in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said today.

Adam Haj Yousuf, a leading NCP figure, was quoted by government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) as saying that Khartoum agreed on peace talks for the sake of the Darfuri people and to reach a resolution to the conflict. He said that negotiations were not intended to serve the interests of certain individuals or bodies.

He argued that JEM’s demand for a separate negotiation track will only encourage further divisions within other rebel groups.

“What did JEM benefit from the framework agreement it signed with the Sudanese government?” Yousuf said adding that the military powerful movement is seeking the maximum benefit for itself.

The NCP official reiterated Khartoum’s insistence on the domestication of the Darfur solution saying that once it bears fruit all rebel groups will rush to the negotiating table.

The Sudanese government plan aims to domesticate efforts to resolve Darfur conflict though promoting dialogue among local actors from states governments, tribal leaders, civil society and IDPs.

It also plans to establish security and support the return of displaced persons besides recovery and development projects there.

JEM walked out of the peace talks with Khartoum last year accusing the government of breaching the framework agreement.

Following that, the Sudanese government commenced talks with an umbrella group of various rebel factions known as the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) headed by Al-Tigani Al-Sissi.

But negotiations with LJM have reached a deadlock over the government’s refusal to approve of the one region status for Darfur or in the alternative grant them the position of Vice president.

Sudan announced last month that it has withdrawn its delegation from Doha upon instructions from president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and will only await a final document from the mediators for signing to wrap up the talks.

However, Khartoum later appeared to reverse its earlier position and sent back its delegation for indirect talks with JEM which returned to Doha on cessation of hostilities which were ongoing until the Sudanese government called back its negotiators.

(ST)