Informal talks with Darfur groups are promising despite divergences: Sudanese official
January 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government praised the recent informal talks with Darfur armed groups despite the differences over the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian file.
In a joint statement issued Monday the two sides said they agreed to resume discussions soon and reiterated their keenness to reach a negotiated solution for the 13-year conflict in Darfur.
The head of the government delegation, Amin Hassan Omer, told the official SUNA that the informal meeting with Darfur rebels “took place in a very positive atmosphere and set off from the document reached during the last formal round of talks under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP)” last November.
From the beginning, the government’s position was clear that any talks about a cessation of hostilities agreement must lead to negotiations on political issues, Omer further stressed.
The head of Darfur peace office disclosed that a disagreement emerged about the geographical extent of the cessation of hostilities, is it to be implemented in certain positions or include areas.
However, he said it was agreed to refer the matter to technical experts from the African Union.
On the humanitarian access, the Sudanese state minister said the government position was to form a joint coordination committee to supervise its implementation adding that they rejected a proposition by the armed groups to set up a new body with executive power.
Also according to Amin, the government rejected a rebels’ demand to postpone a referendum on Darfur administrative future. He pointed that it is “provided in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) which has become part of the Constitution”.
On the ongoing military operations against the positions of the SLM – Abdel Wahid al-Nur in Jebel Marra, the Sudanese official pointed to the SLM-AW rejection to negotiate a peaceful settlement. He further said the campaign aims to restore security in the region after over seventy incidents and attacks on civilians and commercial convoys.
“But in general, a positive spirit prevailed during the discussions and the parties felt the meetings would be fruitful if they continue the talks,” he further said.
He added that the two movements need some time to prepare their position-papers before to reengage in talks with the government.
The joint statement issued at the end of Debre Zeit meeting said the parties agreed to resume discussions but didn’t say when or where.
The informal discussions came after a meeting with the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdallah Al-Mahmoud in Paris where the two groups reiterated their demand to open the DDPD for discussions on compensations, landownership and protection of civilians.
Amin said the DDPD remains the base of discussions on Darfur conflict, and it should be mediated by the joint chief mediator and Qatar.
He further said the government agreed to give the two rebel groups the needed time to prepare a position-paper that they agreed to submit to the Qatari official during Paris meeting.
On a related development, the head of Darfur peace implementation office announced that 10 new villages will be constructed by Qatar in the five states of Darfur region at a cost of $ 70 million.
The announcement was made after a meeting with the Qatari aid groups to discuss ways to facilitate their activities in the region.
(ST)