International condemnation of Sudan DDPD signatory leader’s slaying

In a statement from Addis Ababa on Monday, the African Union (AU) has condemned the killing on Sunday of JEM-Bashar commander Mohamed Bashar, his deputy, and other members of his entourage. In a similar statement, the European Union (EU) Delegation in Sudan has also condemned the attack.As reported previously by Radio Dabanga, Bashar was returning to Darfur from the Chadian capital before heading to Khartoum for the implementation Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) on 6 April. While reports from the various factions conflict, in the Sudan Tribune, Bashar’s adviser Nahar Osman said that more than 30 JEM vehicles attacked Bashar’s convoy in Pamina, Chad, four kilometres from the Sudanese border.“The EU Delegation in Sudan condemns the attack on 12 May 2013 that led to the killing of Mohamed Bashar, signatory to the  … DDPD, and several other members of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan,” the EU statement said.“The European Union supports the DDPD and remains committed to promote reconciliation and peace in Darfur. Attacking those who are willing to lay down arms and negotiate is detrimental to the peace process and to the people of Darfur.”The EU Delegation called on all sides involved in the fighting “to immediately cease hostilities and to engage in a peaceful settlement of the conflict, recalling that justice and accountability are the cornerstones of sustainable peace in Darfur and can only be accomplished by a common will to move forward among all parties.”African Union “The Chairperson of the Commission of the AU, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has learned, with great shock, about the ambush and killing, on 12 May 2013, at the border between Chad and Sudan, of the leader of the [JEM-Bashar], Commander Mohamed Bashar, his deputy, Suleiman Arko Dahiya, and many other members of the [faction], who were heading to Darfur on a peace mission,” the statement said.“The Chairperson of the Commission wishes to recall that Mohamed Bashar and his Movement had embraced peace by signing an agreement with the Government of Sudan, on 6 April 2013, in Doha, Qatar,” the statement continues.“The Chairperson of the Commission condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this cowardly act, aimed at dissuading the hold out groups in Darfur from joining the peace process. She urges the Government of Sudan, with the support of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (Unamid), to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.”Dr Dlamini-Zuma urged followers of the JEM-Bashar “to exercise restraint in order to allow the law to take its full course”. She also urged what she termed “the hold-out movements from Darfur” to “emulate [JEM-Bashar] and join the peace process in the interest of peace and stability in Darfur”.On 11 September 2012 a splinter faction of the JEM announced its separation from Darfur’s largest rebel group, accusing the movement of becoming a biased organization, expressing favouritism to some particular ideas and accused the group of being no longer transparent. Shortly afterwards, Mohamed Bashar Ahmed, leader of what became known as the JEM-Bashar, signed the DDPD with the Sudanese government in Qatar.Photo: EU – AU flags (cropped)Related: Conflicting reports as JEM-Bashar leader dies near Chad-Sudan border (13 May 2013)