Press Release on consultations held by AU mediation team with Sudanese officials

KHARTOUM, Feb 28, 2005 (SUNA) — The Sudan News Agency publishes hereunder text of the press release issued here on Sunday, February 27, by the African Mission in Sudan on consultations held by the AU mediation team with the Sudan government officials:- ”

As part of the efforts aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict in Darfur, a delegation from the African Union Mediation (AU Commission & Chad) is undertaking consultations with the Sudanese parties on the best way to rapidly resume the Talks in Abuja as called for by the AU highest policy organs.

In this context, the delegation led by Amb. Sam Ibok, representative of the Chairperson to the political talks and comprising Amb. Allam-Mi Ahmed, Special Adviser to the President of Chad, Boubou Niang, Political Adviser to the AU Special Envoy for Darfur, Dr. Dawit Toga, Political Analyst at the conflict Management Division and Fanklyn B. Kargbo, Senior Legal Officer, concluded a three day visit to Khartoun.

The delegation held a series of meetings with government officials, namely Dr. Magzoub El Khalifa, Minister of Agriculture and the two Ministers of States for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Najeeb Al khair and Dr. Al Tijani Fidail. During the meetings, the present security situation on the ground was reviewed. The parties also discussed various issues relating to the preparation for the next round of the Abuja talks and their resumption at an earliest date.

The AU mediation Team informed its interlocutors that at the end of the present tour of consultations with the parties, a draft framework protocol on the resolution of the conflict in Darfur will be prepared in the light of the positions expressed by the parties.

The AU mediation Team will be leaving Khartoum tonight for Nairobi and Asmara to hold similar consultations with leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).”