The era of negotiations in exchange for ministerial posts has ended : Bashir
September 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – President Omer al-Bashir Wednesday said that his government would no longer give ministerial positions to rebel groups in Darfur region if they sign a peace agreement.
He was speaking to a group of journalists aboard his presidential plane during his fight to Khartoum from El-Fasher where he attended the celebration marking the completion of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).
“The door is open to anyone who joins the peace process through the (DDPD),” he said adding “but the government would not sign an agreement with the remaining leaders of the armed groups in exchange for ministerial positions”.
Bashir further stressed that Jobs ended with the dissolution of Darfur Regional Authority. However he reiterated that a transitional national unity government will be formed after the end of the national dialogue process which should include opposition groups.
The presidential statements come after unconfirmed reports speaking about secret meeting between the government and armed groups in Kampala facilitated by the Ugandan government in support of the African Union led efforts to end armed conflicts in Sudan.
The Sudanese president said his government is ready to sign a security arrangements agreement with the rebel groups in accordance with the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) mechanism.
He further said that the convictions of the international community have changed a lot as “they believe in the rightness” of Sudan’s (government) positions”.
Two armed groups in Darfur, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM); are negotiating with the Sudanese government on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements.
However, the parties failed to conclude the deals as JEM and SLM-MM demand to open the DDPD to renegotiate some items related to the security situation and the protection of displaced civilians.
(ST)