Opposition DUP leader voices his support to the Doha deal for peace in Darfur
October 15, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Mohamed Osman al-Mirhgani, leader of the opposition Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) stressed the need for concerted efforts to overcome any obstacle that might hinder the implementation of Darfur peace agreement signed in Doha last July.
Al-Mirghani made these statements supportive to the Doha Darfur Peace Document (DDPD) after a meeting with a delegation led by Ahmed Abdel Shafi from the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) held in Khartoum on Saturday.
The opposition leader urged the LJM to focus on the outcome of the DDPD and to drag it towards the interests of the country and its citizens. He further encouraged the group to seek seriously to convince the non-signatory rebel groups to join the peace besides similar efforts with the government to respond to their demands.
Al-Mirghani who led in the past, an umbrella for the whole Sudanese opposition forces including the SPLM, emphasised that peace in Darfur is inevitable and it is important to strengthen Sudan’s unity and cohesion.
The Sudanese government and the LJM signed a peace agreement on 14 July after more than a year of talks in Doha. The leader of the group, Tijani el-Sissi had to return yesterday to Khartoum but the group for unclear reasons postponed his arrival to Khartoum.
The Justice and Equality Movement refused to sign the DDPD requesting to open the framework peace document for talks but the government rejected such demand. While the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur refused to take part in the Doha process.
Abdel Shafi said they are keen to reach all the Sudanese political forces and to consult with them for the sake of peace in Darfur and the implementation of the DDPD. He further pointed out that Darfur displaced people and civil society groups support the peace deal.
Hatim al-Sir, a leading DUP member and candidate for the presidential elections last year, hailed the LJM for its keenness to involve the political parties in the different consultations held in Doha stressing that the government was not desirous for such participation.
He reiterated the DUP’s readiness to cooperate with the LJM in order to persuade the non-signatory groups to join the process and to ensure the full implementation of the deal by the government.
(ST)