Darfur internal peace dialogue proposed to Gov Aliyu

Yesterday, the governor of East Darfur received a proposal for an internal dialogue on Darfur, initiated by Abdelwahid Nur, founder and leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW).

A delegation of the Darfur Displaced and Refugees General Coordination handed the proposal to Governor Mohamed Aliyu.

Upon receiving the initiative, Aliyu affirmed that he stands side by side with displaced persons and refugees’ issues in Darfur. He said in a statement yesterday, that it is important that all the displaced and refugees can return to their homes and enjoy basic human rights.

“We will support the peace initiative with everything we can because it represents and expresses in all truth the issues of the displaced and refugees in Darfur,” he said.

The governor called on Nur, currently living in the French capital of Paris, to return to Sudan and lead the peace initiative, in order to ensure that issues in Darfur are fully addressed.

Bakri Khalil, a member of the delegation, told the Sudan News Agency that the internal peace dialogue is an initiative to solve the crisis in Darfur from within.

He explained that the initiative addresses issues faced by displaced people and refugees, and focuses on coexistence, reconciliation, and unity. The aim is to “permanently solve all outstanding problems in Darfur’.

All five governors in Darfur have been informed about the initiative, and have shown support for the social components of the initiative, he said.

Peace talks

The mainstream SLM-AW have, so far, refused to join peace talks, which began after the establishment of a transitional government in Sudan last year. Nur says he will only join negotiations after security and stability have been realised in Sudan’s conflict-torn western region. Displaced people still complain about insecurity and attacks on civilians in Darfur.

On Tuesday, the movement made a statement denying any contact with the Khartoum government, after reports of a telephone call made by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok during his stay in Addis Ababa, with El Nur. Hamdok described the conversation as “positive” at the time.

The statement clarified that they met by chance and “did not address any issues related to peace, negotiations, or public issues.”

Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.