Darfur mediator welcomes rebels’ commitment for peace
December 12, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur joint mediator, Mohamed Ibn Chmbas welcomed the willingness of two rebel groups to engage negotiations with the Sudanese government to end the ten-year conflict in Darfur region.
The two rebel groups also said they are ready to reach a comprehensive cessation of hostilities agreement providing that this deal include Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
They also demanded that Khartoum creates conducive environment for peace talks through confidence building measures, demanding the release of political prisoners and detainees and exchange of prisoners.
In statement issued on Thursday Chambas welcomed the willingness of the two rebel groups to “move forward into a peaceful and negotiated settlement” of the conflict.
“We are ready to continue engaging with all the non-signatory movements to bring them on board the peace process and find a durable solution for the Darfur conflict,” he said, stressing that “The only way forward is through dialogue, not violence”.
Sources said the rebels informed the mediator that they would consult first with their partners of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) before to decide the move forward.
The two SRF groups in their statement demanded to unify the two existing tracks to settle Darfur and Blue Nile and South Kordofan conflicts.
The SPLM-N which has a separate forum brokered by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki says they are willing to negotiate a cessation of hostilities to facilitate humanitarian access to the affected civilians in the rebel areas and an agenda for the comprehensive talks.
The SLM faction led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur says they are only ready to participate in a process including all the SRF groups with a clear agenda aiming to remove the current government and to establish a democratic regime in Sudan.
(ST)