Darfur rebels, Sudan govt. set for peace talks

Historic talks between the Sudanese government and the armed movements are scheduled to begin in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday. The chief negotiator for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Ahmed Tugud Lisan told Radio Dabanga that the AU mediator Thabo Mbeki announced the start of direct dialogue between the government and the Darfur movements in Addis Ababa to discuss the political issues. He confirmed that this trajectory is a new platform to solve the issues of Darfur and Sudan. “The government should be serious as we are entering serious negotiations during the upcoming phase”. Lisan stressed that after years of civil war, the problems of Sudan and Darfur are complex and require a comprehensive solution. “In the past, the government has looked for half solution, so all its attempts have failed”. He confirmed that the Darfuri movements are willing to sit with the government to solve Darfur’s problems in Sudan if the Government is sincere and willing to do so. “We want real peace if the government has the desire to sit down and tackle all the crises within the framework of a comprehensive solution. We want real peace that would lead to stability and peace for the people of Darfur and hold all the criminals accountable for the crimes in Darfur. News photo: SRF leadership meeting with the AUHIP panel in Addis Ababa, 1 September 2014 (Radio Dabanga) Related:’Khartoum and SPLM-N rebels about to conclude peace deal’: Mbeki (17 November) Sudan rebels meet with AU panel, UN Special Envoy in Addis Ababa (2 September 2014)