Sudan pledges to end Darfur crisis

KHARTOUM, Aug 21, 2004 (Xinhua) — Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha Saturday reiterated the government’s commitment to reaching a political solution to the Darfur crisis.

Taha made the pledge during his talks with a visiting delegation of Muslim organizations in North America.

“The (Sudanese) government sticks to its commitment to make humanitarian service available (for Darfurians) and push forward peace talks in Abuja, (capital of Nigeria),” Taha told the guests.

He, meanwhile, denounced that some foreign groups do not want Sudan to enjoy peace and stability. “They exploit tribal disputes in the western region to create a crisis.”

The Sudanese government and the UN migration agency on Saturday also signed an agreement ensuring displaced Darfurians’ right of return.

According to the deal, more than 1 million people displaced by the 18-month Darfur conflict will have the right to voluntarily return home when they feel the situation is secure enough to do so.

Darfur, which has witnessed an 18-month conflict between the Janjaweed and two African rebel groups, with over 10,000 people killed and 1 million people displaced, is considered the site of the worst humanitarian crisis by the United Nations.

The Sudanese government has been accused of backing Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed to attack African rebel groups in Darfur, which was strongly denied by Khartoum.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on July 30, giving the Sudanese government 30 days to disarm the Janjaweed or face international sanctions.