Darfur mediation reschedules stakeholders conference, urges Sudan-JEM talks

May 10, 2011 (DOHA) — Darfur mediators deferred a stakeholders meeting to the end of the month as negotiations between the government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) are deadlocked over a range of issues.

Government of Sudan (GOS) and rebel JEM delegations said Tuesday they were informed by the mediation that the stakeholders conference is delayed until the 27 of this month. The conference was supposed to be held in Doha during the period of 18-23 May.

Involving the international community besides civil society, tribal leaders, Darfur authorities as well as representatives of displaced persons, the conference aims to discuss the findings of the Doha process and the draft peace agreement and to encourage the parties to sign a pact ending the eight years conflict.

In a meeting held on Tuesday with GOS and JEM delegations in presence of American, British and European envoys, the mediation asked the two parties to resume direct talks and to form small joint teams to parallely discuss the pending issues.

JEM spokesperson Gibreel Bilal Adam, said the mediation also pledged to bring the members of the delegation from the ground in Darfur.

“We welcomed the idea of handling different issues at the same time through separate committees,” Gibreel said. “But that would be difficult to implement without our the other members of JEM delegation that we ask to bring since three months,” he stressed.

He further said UNAMID despite the fact it is acting under the Chapter Seven of the UN charter still does not dare to collect JEM commanders without the authorization of the Sudanese government which delays their arrival to Doha.

Amin Hassan Omer GOS’s top negotiator slammed “JEM’s indisposition” to negotiate a peace agreement, repeating that the rebel are in Doha just to mislead the international community and to avoid international sanctions if they boycott the process.

The mediation in Tuesday’s meeting urged the parties to not obstruct the arrival of delegations to the venue of the peace talks.

Last Saturday, the mediators proposed to postpone talks on security arrangements and Darfur administrative status for the after stakeholders conference; but JEM rebels said that would lead to sign a separate agreement between the government and the other rebel group LJM which concluded talks with Khartoum.

Amin Hassan Omer on Tuesday praised LJM’s stance in the peace process. He said they almost agreed on the six chapters, adding the mediation would make compromise propositions on the remaining few issues.

Tadjadine Bechir Niam, LJM chief negotiator confirmed to Sudan Tribune the end of the talks stressing that they count on the mediators to narrow the gapes on the few issues.

Asked whether they can sign an agreement with Khartoum without JEM, Niam said “definitely we shall go ahead”.

He added that they understand that JEM needs more time to discuss security arrangements for their fighters. Asked about the administrative status of Darfur, Niam said LJM supports maintaining the direct relations between the central government and the states.

JEM rebels said they want the establishment of a regional government controlling Darfur states and representing the whole province at the level of the central government.

Abdalla Mursal, fomer LJM spokesperson who is now one of the leader of a breakaway group, today criticized LJM’s celerity to sign an agreement establishing a coordination authority without clear attributions.

He further said the regional authority proposed in the draft peace agreement has no power to ensure the implementation of what is agreed between the parties.

(ST)