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Sudan Tribune

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Sudan says Darfur talks limited to ceasefire

November 24, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Monday rejected the demand of Darfur rebel groups for talks on a comprehensive peace process, stressing that the process aims only to reach a ceasefire in Darfur to allow them to take part in the national dialogue.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim (C) speaks at the opening session of Darfur negotiations flanked by SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman (L) and SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi in Addis Ababa on 23 November 2014 (Photo courtesy of AUHIP)
JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim (C) speaks at the opening session of Darfur negotiations flanked by SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman (L) and SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi in Addis Ababa on 23 November 2014 (Photo courtesy of AUHIP)
Sudanese government, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi started on Sunday a process brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to negotiate a cessation of hostilities and security arrangements in Darfur region.

The process comes in implementation of a roadmap endorsed by the Peace and Security Council providing to hold one process in two tracks to include the rebel groups in the national dialogue process.

“Dialogue with Darfur rebel movements will discuss specific agenda which is a ceasefire in order to complete peace and enable (the rebels) to join a national dialogue. That is what (we) agreed with the mediation,” said NCP media secretary Yasir Youssef.

Youssef further called on the two rebel groups to commit themselves to “these references” to move forward and to avoid “wasting time”.

He was alluding to the statements of JEM leader at the opening session where he said they came to discuss issues related to Darfur region and national issues but not only a cessation of hostilities agreement.

“Many people will be disappointed if these negotiations remain confined to issues of merely a cessation of hostilities,” said Gibril Ibrahim.

According to the rebel leader, the comprehensive cessation of hostilities is an entry point to “creating a conducive environment for a permanent nationwide ceasefire and a national constitutional dialogue. This is a point that our SRF comrades, the SPLM-N, have raised in their own talks and that we strongly echo here”.

Youssef said the Darfur rebels come to the talks with the agenda of Paris Declaration, matter that the government rejects to recognise.

The NCP official spokesperson further said that a delegation from the national dialogue mechanism including four representatives of the opposition parties and four representatives government parties will travel to Addis to meet the rebel groups and encourage them to join the national dialogue.

In Addis Ababa, the chief mediator Thabo Mbeki held a series of consultations with the government and rebel groups to discuss the agenda of the talks.

Reports from Addis Ababa say the government delegation agreed that the first step should be a comprehensive cessation of hostilities in Darfur in order to prepare for the national dialogue.

While the rebel groups insist on the need to discuss a comprehensive cessation of hostilities in Darfur, humanitarian access and confidence building measures ahead of the national dialogue.

The head of the government negotiating delegation Amin Hassan Omer, on Sunday called on the rebel groups to discuss a ceasefire agreement in line with the Doha Document for peace in Darfur (DDPD).

“Our understanding is that this round will of talks will focus on the issue of arriving at a cessation of hostilities that will lead immediately and is linked to a comprehensive ceasefire on Darfur as per the DDPD,” he said.

(ST)

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