Doha talks on Darfur ‘intensive, positive, and transparent’

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of Qatar, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, has described the talks held by the joint mediation for Darfur peace during the past two days in Doha as “intensive, positive and transparent”.

The talks, with a delegation from Sudan’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), concluded on Wednesday morning.

In remarks to reporters, Al Mahmoud said that the two movements have put forward their point of view, as the mediation discussed with them a number of issues. The two movements’ delegation confirmed that they will continue their efforts to reach a peaceful settlement and affirmed Doha as the venue to establish peace in Darfur.

Al Mahmoud said that the two movements also emphasised their confidence in the joint mediation. He stated that there were some procedural matters that need consultation with the other party, which is the Sudanese government.

Al Mahmoud said in his remarks that the two movements had confirmed their willingness to go on and looked forward to returning, hoping that all will take a second step forward in this way. He added that the return to talks depends on the consultations’ outcome, because there are a number of issues; some of them might be solved while other procedural issues need more consultation. He pointed out that two days were not enough to consult on these issues, noting that some points need to be approved by both parties.

He said he is “trying to bringing different points of view together and trying to create a shared understanding with the government in order to proceed”.

“…the arrival of the two movements’ delegation in Doha is in itself a significant and essential achievement…”

Unamid head and joint mediator Martin Uhomoibhi told reporters that the Doha meeting was very important, stressing that the arrival of the two movements’ delegation in Doha is in itself a significant and essential achievement.Uhomoibhi believed that the meetings over three days with both movements represent a great achievement. He noted that the participants agreed that the most important matter is that these talks must continue until peace is achieved in Darfur.

Regarding the outcome of the talks, Uhomoibhi said he is very optimistic, especially that the talks were held in an atmosphere of transparency, intimacy and trust, adding that positive matters overshadowed the meetings and discussions in all topics and viewpoints.

The JEM leader Jibril Ibrahim underlined that the Doha meeting is “not a negotiation. The Sudanese Government is not a party to it. It is a two-day meeting in order to extrapolate the Qatari State’s vision on the peace process in Darfur so as to reach a common ground.”

El Tahir El Faki, Chairman of the JEM Legislative Council of the, said purpose of the visit to Qatar was to extrapolate about the peace process in Darfur, and reaching common ground. He also refused to call the talks ‘negotiation with the Sudanese Government’.

He added that in January JEM met with the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister in Paris with the participation of Minni Minawi, at a request from the Qatari Government to exchange views on the peace process in Darfur.

(Source: Qatar News Agency)

Joint mediators: Unamid head Martin Uhomoibhi with The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of Qatar, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud

Delegation from Sudan’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)

Delegation from Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM)