Darfur talks run aground on rebel conditions
ADDIS ABABA, July 17 (AFP) — International efforts to broker a crucial peace between the Sudanese government and two rebel groups from the western Darfur region ran aground on rebel preconditions rejected by Khartoum.
Special UN envoy Mohamed Sahnoun said in Addis Ababa that the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) would only enter into direct negotiations if Khartoum agreed to their demands about demilitarising Darfur and bringing war criminals to book.
The region is in the throes of what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with a major famine looming and humanitarian relief operations hampered by rains.
More than 10,000 people have been killed in Darfur since the rebels rose up in February 2003, prompting a heavy-handed response from Khartoum, and over a million have been displaced.
Despite efforts by the African Union and United Nations, the two sides have only sat down together once during this initiative, on Thursday, when the encounter degenerated into a prolonged shouting match.
“The rebels refused any negotiation, unless their demands are implemented,” Sahnoun told AFP as mediators shuttled between the two sides trying to breathe life into the peace process.
“We have decided to work on the confidence-building process and to issue a statement on this meeting, which is over, but separate consultations will continue throughout the day,” Sahnoun added.
Chief among rebel preconditions was that Khartoum withdraw its regular troops from Darfur and disarm militia forces blamed for causing widespread devastation and committing atrocities in the region.
“This is unacceptable and a sign of failure of commitment by the rebels” to a humanitarian ceasefire signed in Chad in April, said Khartoum spokesman Ibrahim Mohammed.
“We have already started disarming (militias) and releasing prisoners of war but on the question of the national army, as they are the army of the nation, they have duties and responsibilities to protect the national borders and the citizens of the country. There is no way to confine them in designated areas” outside Darfur, he added.
“Whenever the rebels change their mind and want to put the so-called demands as an agenda of discussions, not as a precondition, we are ready to continue the dialogue,” he said.
Despite numerous accusations to the contrary from the international community, the government insists the militia forces, known as Janjawid, are not under its control.
Rebel spokesman Ahmed Tugon Lissan told journalists in Addis Ababa: “We are going to stay tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) and if they need us they can call us.”
“We are open for any direct political dialogue in future if the government’s commitments are translated into deeds and confirmed by the international community,” Lissan explained.
“We have no reason to meet the government for political discussions which (may) lead us to a peace settlement when the government is not implementing the demands of the international community (and) while the Janjawid, supported by the government, are killing innocent people on the ground,” JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam said.
The rebels also insisted that Khartoum step up efforts to counter Darfur’s humanitarian crisis and recommit itself to the April ceasefire, which both sides are accused of violating.
They further called for an investigation into war crimes, such as “ethnic cleansing”, and the prosecution of all perpetrators.
The African Union, which is building up an observer mission in Darfur, itself made a similar demand at a summit last week.
Meanwhile, aid agencies warned on Friday that the onset of rains had severely hampered efforts to help thousands of displaced people in Darfur and across the border in Chad.
The World Health Organisations has also warned that a major health catastrophe could erupt in Darfur if the necessary funds and supplies were not made available to fight disease and malnutrition.