Darfur mediators, Sudanese officials to discuss peace agreement this week
November 20, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur peace mediators are scheduled to visit Sudan this week as they have to discuss a peace agreement with the government officials and meet civil society representatives in the restive region.
Joint Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassole and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud will arrive on 25 November to the Sudanese capital for talks with the President Omer Al-Bashir, and presidential adviser in charge of Darfur file Ghazi Salah Eddin.
The discussions aim to assess what the government is ready to concede on the outstanding issues during the negotiations with rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) such as the power sharing in the central government and the status of Darfur region.
The mediators met in Doha with Bashir on 7 November where Bassole explored the possibility of giving a position of vice-president to the region. He also called on the president to pay particular attention to the issue of compensation.
At the time, the semi-official news service, SMC said that Bashir was not very enthusiastic to accept the idea of a vice presidency to Darfur saying it would open the door for every region to demand the same position, leading towards the fragmentation of Sudan.
The rebel LJM warned that they would not sign a peace agreement that does not establish one region in Darfur. Here also the government said attached to the three states in Darfur and not willing to accept this demand.
Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, chairman of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) said recently he is working to hold consultative meetings for his group to discuss ways to hold peace talks with the government.
Also, the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) held a meeting with the mediation in Doha last week where they presented a 10-point paper on the resumption of peace negotiations with Khartoum.
The mediation will also visit the three states of Darfur for discussion on the peace process with the civil society groups including the traditional leaders and delegates and representatives of the displaced civilians.
The civil society is seen by the mediation as an important element to implement any peace deal signed with the rebel groups on the ground.
According to a frame time established by the mediation, Sudanese government and LJM rebels have to sign a peace agreement before 19 December.
(ST)