Darfur Track: gov’t speaks about progress but rebels point to divergences
November 22, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese government chief negotiator for Darfur track expressed optimism over the possible signing of an agreement but the rebel groups say they still disagree over important issues.
Omer told reporters following consultations with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) chief Thabo Mbeki Sunday evening that they submitted their response to the mediation proposal, pointing they made several remarks and reservations on the proposal but he refrained from disclosing them.
“We can’t give details of [those remarks and reservations] as long as the African mediation didn’t allow that,” he said.
“We sat with president Mbeki and we laid out those remarks and reservations and I believe that our stance has become clearer. We are optimistic that we could reach an agreement that leads to ceasing hostilities and resuming the peace process in Darfur,” he added .
The AUHIP submitted a draft agreement to the government and the joint negotiating team of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) before it held separate meetings with the two parties to discuss their responses and reconcile views on the points of contention.
Sayed Sharif, a member of the rebel joint negotiating team told Sudan Tribune that the mediation in its latest draft included 60% of their propositions. He added they agree with the mediation over the need for a cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian access.
“The cessation of hostilities is important to reach the affected civilians and the displaced who are in the camps,” Sharif said adding “But the regime wants a final ceasefire agreement after what we join the national dialogue process”.
He stressed that besides the humanitarian cessation of hostilities, they want to discuss the political issues and the pre-dialogue meeting.
Asked to elaborate over the political issues, Sharif said they intend to discuss issues of power and wealth sharing, return of displaced persons and refugees, and security arrangements including the ceasefire.
On the preparatory meeting, he pointed to the need to agree on the agenda and the participants of the pre-dialogue meeting, the chairmanship of the dialogue and the mechanism that will implement the outcome of the political process.
The Sudanese government refuses to discuss political matters saying they are already settled in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). But the holdout groups say they do not recognize this framework agreement.
(ST)