Gambari: Armed groups should join talks

The UNAMID joint special representative says it’s time for peace, not war

Ibrahim Gambari, the UNAMID joint special representative, urged on Wednesday all the Darfuri armed resistance movements, which are currently excluded from the Doha peace agreement, to participate in the process.Addressing a press conference in Khartoum, Gambari said, “I reiterate my call to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudanese Liberation Army- Minni Minawi and the Sudanese Liberation Army – Abdul Wahid to join the peace process and contribute to building of a better tomorrow for all Darfuris.”

The Doha peace agreement, signed between the government of Sudan and Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), has been widely criticized for not including major Darfuri resistance movements.

“This is not the time to posture. This is not a time to unite for war. This is a time to unite for peace. Too many have suffered and too much is at stake. Entire communities are looking at you for leadership to take Darfur forward,” Gambari said.

Gambari’s statements come in the wake of the formation of a coaltion by the opposition forces aimed at overthrowing the regime in Khartoum forcefully.

The JSR pointed out that the UNAMID had achieved stability in Darfur: “Our figures have shown that the number of armed attacks in all three Darfur states has fallen by as much as 70% over the past three years, which has resulted in more displaced people returning to their homes.”

However, he acknowledged that there was still more left to be desireable. People returning to their homes and livelihoods would be the right indicator for progress, he said.