Darfur rebels, Sudan ‘to arrange peace talks’

The Sudanese government is in contact with Darfuri rebel commanders to arrange peace negotiations under the Doha Document of Peace in Darfur (DDPD). On Wednesday, Amin Hassan Omar, the chairman of the governmental Darfur Peace Office, announced that arrangements with Chad are underway to transport some leaders of Darfuri armed movements from Darfur to Chad, where they will discuss the possibilities of joining the DDPD. They rebel leaders will then travel from Chad to the Qatari capital of Doha to join the peace process. Adam Saleh Abakar, the spokesman for a dissident rebel group that recently split from the Sudan Liberation Movement commanded by Minni Minawi, confirmed that they had contacted the Sudanese authorities, saying they are prepared to lay down their arms. He told the Sudanese Press Services Centre, run by the security apparatus, on Wednesday that their “communication with the Khartoum regime is not impossible or forbidden”, because “for the sake of peace, one must knock on any door”. Minawi dismissed four of his commanders a week ago, accusing them of treason and “communicating with the enemy”. They had accused Minawi of nepotism and corruption, and demanded transparency and reforms. File photo: Darfuri rebels (Derk Segaar/IRIN) Related: Darfur rebel leader Minawi sacks commanders (15 October 2014)