Sudan says no talks on Darfur without Doha framework
December 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Monday reaffirmed that any peace agreement to end Darfur conflict should be within the framework of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), rejecting rebels’ demand for a comprehensive peace process.
Speaking following the end of the seventh meeting of the international follow-up committee for the DDPD implementation, the head of Darfur peace follow-up office Amin Hassan Omer said any peace should be within the framework agreement signed by two former rebel groups.
“We stressed that any effort to achieve peace in Darfur must be under the framework of the Doha agreement and acceptance of the partnership in its implementation.”
“It is time for the rebel movements to join peace”, he further said, stressing that those who come to peace will be welcomed and those who reject it will quickly realise that time of war is over.
JEM was part of the Doha process which yielded the DDPD but refused to sign it demanding more discussions on its six chapters. But the SLM-MM was not part of this process as it had signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006 before to denounce over difference with Khartoum on the implementation of security arrangements.
Qatar’s deputy prime minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and head of the international DDPD implementation follow-up committee called on the rebel groups to join peace without delay and unconditionally and to not obstruct the development process in the region.
The joint peace mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas, stated that the non-signatory expressed their willingness and commitment for peace but asked for a comprehensive process including rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the SPLM-N.
Following a meeting held in Addis Ababa from 9 to 11 December, the two rebel groups and the mediator failed to come out with one statement.
The two movements asked for a “comprehensive, inclusive, just and sustainable negotiated peaceful settlement of the Sudanese conflicts”. Also, they suggested to unify the peace tracks and to hold talks between the government and the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Front.
(ST)