Government, Darfur groups agree to pursue informal talks
January 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government and two armed groups from Darfur agreed region agreed to continue informal discussions, said a joint statement released at the end of a three-day meeting in Ethiopia on Monday.
A Sudanese government delegation led by the head of Darfur peace office Amin Hassan Omer and a joint delegation from the Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) held a three day meeting in Ethiopian town of Debre Zeit, from 23 to 25 January.
The meeting was organized by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and with the participation of the UNAMID chief who is also the joint chief mediator. It meant to narrow the gabs between the two parties in a bid to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement and a humanitarian deal.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune the two parties reiterated their keenness and seriousness to reach a negotiated solution ending the 13 year conflict in Darfur region.
“The Parties affirm the continuity of the dialogue through negotiations and informal meetings to reach an agreement achieving peace in Darfur. This agreement will contribute to implement a sustainable peace through the participation in the national dialogue,” read a joint statement issued on Monday.
The statement further said the meeting studied the proposals made by the AUHIP last November for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements, and held a serious discussions in order to bridge the gaps over the outstanding issues.
Last November, the two rebel groups requested to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) but the government rejected this claim saying it is disposed to discuss security arrangements and called them to join the internationally supported frame work document.
Earlier this month the two groups met in Paris with the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdallah Al-Mahmoud who co-mediated the DDPD and discussed with him ways to open the text for further talks on matter like compensations and protection of the displaced people.
JEM and SLM-MM called to stop the ongoing government attack on the position of the SLM led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW), to allow humanitarian assistance and to postpone a referendum on Darfur administrative future. But the government delegation rejected these demands.
According to the joint statement, the government said the military operation is carried out against a rebel group refusing to join the peace process. Regarding the referendum, it pointed to its commitment to fully implement the DDPD which provides the organisation of this vote.
No date was determined for the next meeting between the two parties to the negotiations on Darfur region.
(ST)