Chief Mediator Bassolé talks to Radio Dabanaga

The joint UN-AU mediation for Darfur, said Friday that the issue determining the administrative status of Darfur, in an issue that is debated in Doha, Qatar. The announcement was made on Radio Dabanga by the joint UN-AU mediator Djibril Bassolé himself. The announcement was a response to the President Omar Al-Bashirs one-sided presidential decree to hold a referendum in Darfur. Bassolé noted that the decree will not come into action before there is political consensus on it is achieved in Doha. He stressed the need for all parties to continue dialogue on the form and nature of the referendum before it is carried out.

Bassolé also announced the postponement of a meeting  for Darfuri civil societies groups in Doha for a week from the announced date of 18^th April.  He stressed the need for all affected parties from Darfur, displaced persons, refugees and civil society organizations to attend the meeting and take part in the peace talks. Bassolé confirmed that the internal Darfurian dialogue should not be directed against Doha but should be complementary to the Doha talks