Sudan government rejects African Union proposal on Darfur security
ABUJA, Sept 8 (AFP) — Sudanese government delegates at peace talks being held here for Sudan’s Darfur region on Wednesday rejected a draft protocol presented by the talks’ mediators, the African Union, on the sensitive issues of security and disarmament.
“This draft, the way it had been prepared, contradicts obligations that we have already undertaken,” Sudan’s deputy foreign affairs minister Najeib Abdelwahab told AFP.
“For example, this protocol speaks about reduction of forces while we have already taken a commitment to the UN to deploy police forces in Darfur so that law and order can prevail,” he said during a recess.
“The new protocol glossed over four basic areas and unless it is further amended, it will not be useful at all.
“Firstly, the protocol has to be consistent with the Ndjamena agreement and to consolidate the implementation of the agreement,” he said, referring to a pact signed in April in the Chadian capital between Khartoum and Darfur rebels, who rose up against the government in February last year, to protest at the economic and political marginalisation of their region.
“Secondly, the protocol has to be consistent with the obligations of the government of Sudan and the agreements we signed with the UN and the plan of action which was signed with the special representative of the UN secretary general,” he added, without going into detail.
Abdelwahab also said the protocol has to clearly define the obligations of each party to the conflict so that both sides know what their obligations are, and should define the Janjaweed so that the government will know how and where to disarm them.
The Janjaweed are the pro-Khartoum militia allegedly given a free rein by Khartoum when Darfur plunged into civil war 19 months ago to crack down on the native black African population.
The Arab militia has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians, of conducting a scorched earth policy, and of the widespread rape of women.
The talks recessed until 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) to give government negotiators time to study the draft protocol.