Joint mediator seeks Chadian support for peace in Darfur
November 26, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and joint peace mediator Mohamed Ibn Chmabas called on the Chadian president Idriss Deby to support his efforts to bring rebel groups to the negotiating table.
Ibn Chambas met with Deby in the Chadian capital N’Djamena on Monday 25 November as part of a series of visits to Sudan’ neighbouring countries to underscore the importance of regional cooperation to end the 10-year conflict in Darfur.
The mediator “reiterated the need for durable peace to end this seemingly intractable conflict and shared his plans to engage the non-signatory movements in a technical workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in December”, said a statement issued after the meeting.
The Mission further said the Ibn Chambas asked the president Deby to support his efforts aiming to “bringing on board the peace process the non-signatory movements”.
Last August, the mediator organised a meeting with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) in Arusha, Tanzania to discuss ways to reach a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
The two movements called for a comprehensive process to resolve all the conflicts in Sudan and not only Darfur, as they demand to unify all the venues in one forum.
Ibn Chambas is mandated to work for the resolution of Darfur conflict within the framework of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
Deby expressed his support and readiness to cooperate with the mediation to end the conflict which has negative social and economic impacts on his country.
He further “informed the JSR that the international community needed to be more involved in the peace process and steer the non-signatory movements towards negotiations and dialogue”.
Last May, the mediator met with the Ugandan president. Also, during a visit to Juba from 13 to 16 November Ibn Chambas met with the South Sudanese vice-president and other officials to discuss Darfur issue and sought South Sudan’s support to his efforts to end the conflict.
Juba was suspected of supporting the rebel groups in Darfur while Uganda is accused of harbouring and training the insurgents. While Chad after years of antagonism with Sudan is now seen as its best allies to combat the rebellion.
The Sudanese rebels accuse Deby of sending troops to Darfur to fight them alongside the Sudanese troops. Last month he pressed Zaghawa tribal leaders to bring their sons to the negotiating table warning he would fight them if they refuse.
(ST)