July 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said the closure of peace talks in Doha for a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the eight year conflict in Darfur means a return to war in Sudan’s restive western region.

Sudan’s Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani ( L-R) and Darfur LJM leader Al-Tijani Al-Sissi show a peace accord after the signing ceremony in Doha July 14, 2011. (Reuters)

The government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed a peace agreement in Doha on 14 July followed by a protocol dealing with political participation of the former rebels in the national and regional institutions, it also set the mechanism for the integration of its combatants.

JEM says it is necessary to open talks on the Doha peace document and review important issues included in the all seven chapters of the text which was adopted by the stakeholders conference as basis for peace talks between the government and armed groups.

Khartoum gave JEM rebels three months to join the Doha document for peace in Darfur reaffirming its readiness to negotiate only the political participation and the security arrangements with them. The government also say the group does not want a peaceful solution but ultimately seeks a regime change.

Gibreel Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the rebel group, reiterated JEM commitment to the peace process to end the armed conflict in Darfur. He further said "the presence of our negotiating delegation in Doha is the best proof to JEM adherence to a negotiated solution".

He further disclosed that they handed over a letter to Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs and head of the follow-up committee Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud inquiring about the fate of the process after the departure of the Sudanese delegation and UN mediation team.

"We are still waiting a response from the mediation as we sent our letter since ten days," he said.

New York moved the mediation team members from Doha after the end of Doha stakeholders conference last May as the former Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole left to his country Burkina Faso where he was re-appointed foreign affairs minister.

The absence of the mediation team was noticed during the signing ceremony of Sudan LJM agreement on 14 July as the representatives of tribal leaders, civil society and displaced people refused to leave Doha without a copy of the final text of the peace agreement and the Doha peace document which were not yet ready for distribution.

The stakeholders said they want copies to explain what they witnessed in Doha. The Qatari foreign affairs ministry delayed their departure and worked the document out after what the delegates took their plane to Darfur.

Gibreel stressed that JEM is a responsible movement that will not declare war against the government from Doha as it has done. But he asserted they are well prepared to defend themselves when Khartoum attacks their positions.

Ibrahim Gambari, head of UNAMID and Joint Special Representative was appointed as ad interim mediator this month but he told reporters in New York last week that consultations are taking place between the African Union and the United Nations on whether to designate a new mediator or to keep him as peacemaker.

Khartoum which did not comment officially on his appointment as ad mediator, slammed recently Gambari’s demand to remove the state of emergency and create a conducive atmosphere before launching a political dialogue process in Darfur.

Khartoum accused the Nigerian diplomat of interference in Sudan’s internal affairs adding this is contrary to the principles of mediation ethics, stressing that he is now part of the conflict in Darfur.

(ST)