AU Security Council announces measures against Darfur movements ‘refusing to join peace process’

The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) announced its intention to take measures against the armed movements refusing to join the peace process in Darfur. The Council will recommend the UN Security Council to take similar action against these movements. The AUPSC in a statement issued on Friday on the situation in Darfur, “notes with concern that some of the armed groups have consistently rejected peace efforts”. It demanded from the movements to join the peace process without delay and preconditions, warning that the negotiation process will not remain open indefinitely. Three main rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid el Nur (SLM-Nur), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) under the command of Dr Jibril Ibrahim, and Minni Minawi’s Sudan Liberation movement (SLM-MM), demand a “holistic peace process” in which all regional conflicts in Sudan will be addressed, with all opposition groups and parties. The three movements, that are also member of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of opposition groups and parties), refuse the “threats” uttered by the AUSCP. They keep to their rejection “to deal with partial solutions,” and describe the Doha agreement as “dead, since there is no security in Darfur.” Dr Jibril Ibrahim, head of JEM, and Co-Vice President of the SRF, commented by saying that the AUPSC first needs to review its stance. “The PSC should sit down with all the parties and listen to them before judging.” Ibrahim reiterated JEM’s rejection of a partial solution and its insistence to pursue a comprehensive peace process. El Nur, leader of the SLM and the Co-Vice President of the SRF, scoffed the “threats” by the AUPSC, stressing that “comprehensive peace begins with ensuring security and stopping the genocide.”   The SLM-Nur leader warned the AU that “it will become part of the ongoing genocide, if it takes position alongside el Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court.” “The kind of peace intended by the AU is that the armed movements of Darfur join the employees of the genocide government in Khartoum. This will never happen.” He added that they are ready, “not for threats, but to go to court.” “We are ready to go anywhere in order to stop the genocide and reach a real comprehensive peace in the whole of Sudan.” File photo: talkzimbabwe.com