Qatar to be associated with Darfur rebels at next round of talks

September 23, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Qatar will be associated with rebel groups from the Darfur region at next month’s talks on a cessation of hostilities agreement, a Sudanese official said on Tuesday.

Following a meeting with the Qatari Ambassador in Khartoum, the head of Darfur peace implementation office Amin Hassan Omer stated on Tuesday that Qatari will be associated to talks on a cessation of hostilities agreement with the three rebel groups in Addis Ababa.

“There is no contradiction between Qatari role and talks on the cessation of hostilities with Darfur rebel groups,” Omer said.

He underscored this round of talks is a step aiming to create a conducive environment for the national dialogue process, which will be held inside the country with the participation of all the Sudanese political forces.

The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), which includes Darfur groups and the SPLM-N, and the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) signed agreement on the national dialogue and constitutional process providing the need for a truce as an absolute priority in confidence building measures.

Also the AU Peace and Security stated on 12 decided that the talks on the cession of hostilities on Darfur and the Two Areas will be synchronised and coordinated . The government and SPLM-N delegations will meet on 12 October and Darfur groups will engage in talks on 15 September.

Omer said the Qatari envoy delivered a message from the deputy prime minister, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud who is tasked with Darfur file dealing with the framework of the ongoing consultations and coordination on the peace process.

Recently, the Darfur Regional Authority said that Qatar did not agree to transfer the venue of the peace process from Doha to Addis Ababa, but there was no such statement from the Qatari government.

(ST)