African mediators seek to break Darfur talks deadlock

ADDIS ABABA, July 16 (AFP) — African Union mediators met officials of the Sudanese government and rebel groups from the western Darfur region in an effort to kickstart peace efforts amid mounting concern over the area’s civilian population.

Hopes that the two sides might immedidately engage in direct political negotiations at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa were dashed after the rebels — the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) — laid down a series of preconditions, some of which the government rejected.

Chief among these was a demand that Khartoum pull its regular forces and allied militia from the region, which, after 17 months of conflict, is in the throes of what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Also Friday, aid agencies warned that the onset of rains had severely hampered efforts to help thousands of displaced people in Darfur and across the border in Chad.

In Addis Ababa, Sudanese government spokesman Ibrahim Mohammed told AFP he hoped direct direct talks with the rebels might open later Friday evening, after a delegation of more senior rebels was due to arrive in the Ethiopian capital.

“We are here with an open mind, with the help of the African Union and the international community, to hammer out a peaceful resolution to the crisis,” he added.

He also dismissed the rebels’ demand that pro-Khartoum Janjawid militias accused of numerous atrocities in Darfur be pulled out of the region.

“It is completely unacceptable and unrealistic as the militias are not under the control of the government. The government cannot enter into such commitment,” Mohammed explained.

But Khartoum stands widely accused of working very closely with the Janjawid.

The rebels also insisted that Khartoum step up efforts to counter Darfur’s humanitarian crisis, where a major famine is looming, and recommit itself to an April 8 ceasefire — which both sides are accused of violating.

They additionally called for an investigation into war crimes such as “ethnic cleansing” and prosecution of all perpetrators.

The African Union itself made a similar demand at a summit last week.

“In our meeting … we have made it clear to the mediators on the actions taken by the government towards ensuring security, averting the humanitarian crisis and disarming not only the Janjawid but also the Bashmarga and Torabora (militias)” Mohammed said.

“Anyone carrying arms (in Darfur) without the knowledge of the government is an outlaw. To disarm the three militia (groups) will need time and big resources,” he added.

“Therefore we have asked the AU to come up with a plan to identify sites for disarmament and areas where we can store arms,” Mohammed said, explaining that Khartoum also pledged to provide food and other necessary materials to militia who will be disarmed.

“As for the conditions presented by the other side, they are mainly a negotiation tactic, otherwise security and humanitarian conditions (on the ground) are improving, the disarming of the militias is on the move.

“So (some of) the conditions were implemented even before they were tabled,” Mohammed added.

The government spokesman conceded that civilians died in Darfur’s ceasefire violations, but blamed it on the militia.

“We told mediators that no one has been killed by aerial bombardment but (rather) by the outlaw militias,” he said.

At its summit, the AU also urged Khartoum to stop its bombing raids in Darfur.

On Monday, the United States described Khartoum’s response to its previous pledges as “more words than action”.

The 17-month conflict in Darfur has killed more than 10,000 people, and displaced over a million while agricultural disruption has prompted a looming famine.