SLM-MM, JEM meet in Doha about pre-negotiation agreement

The meeting between the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Qatar discussed reasons that hindered the pre-negotiation agreement from the rebels' side.

Dr Jibril Ibrahim, the leader of the JEM, told Radio Dabanga that the talks in Doha, which were overseen by Qatari mediator Ambassador Mutlaq Al Qahtani, were “successful”.

The meeting with the Qatari mediator was focused on the reasons that hindered the pre-negotiation agreement, how to overcome these obstacles and push forward the peace process.

“I cannot say that there are specific results we have reached in Doha, but what I can say is that we got the message across which we wanted to deliver.”

He explained that the joint rebel groups' exclusive meeting with the Qatari mediator discussed the manner of managing the peace file and the appropriate means to move the peace process, in addition to the confirmation of the Doha forum and not objecting to the role of the Qatari mediator.

“We talked about practical measures to get the peace process moving and coordinate with the various parties and platforms that work in the field of mediation.”

The event ended yesterday with the Qatari Foreign Ministry and ambassadors from Germany, Britain and France and an envoy from the US Embassy in Doha. The JEM and SLM-MM leaders then presented the discussed topics to the ambassadors and representatives.

Last week the Sudanese government announced the appointment as mediator of President Salva Kiir to settle the dispute in the 'Two Areas': South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Later, Sudan government negotiator Dr Amin Omar told Sudanese press otherwise. “The role of the Government of South Sudan is only to facilitate negotiations, as happened in Berlin and Uganda. […] “The only platform for Darfur is Doha and for the Two Areas Addis Ababa.”

Doha document for peace

The holdout groups including the JEM and SLM-MM refused to sign the DDPD in July 2011 and called to open the framework agreement for talks.

Two SLM splinter factions, led by Nourelding Zorgi and Salih Ishag, signed an agreement with the Sudanese government in February 2015 and became part of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. The agreement was initially signed on 11 July 2011 between the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) of Tijani El Sese. The faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Dabajo broke away from the mainstream JEM in 2012, and signed the DDPD in April 2013.