South Sudan president to contact Darfur rebel chiefs to promote Doha

The chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the ruling party of southern Sudan, has agreed to contact two exiled rebel leaders of Sudan’s western Darfur region. Salva Kiir Mayardit leads the autonomous region of South Sudan. He is also First Vice President of the Republic, but his role in national affairs has usually been limited. Yesterday, nonetheless, it was announced that Kiir will contact two rebel leaders at the request of United Nations-African Union mediator Djibril Bassolé.The SPLM chairman will ‘soon’ make contact with the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, Khalil Ibrahim, and the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdel Wahid Al Nur. According to SPLM Deputy Secretary-General Yasir Arman, who spoke at a press conference yesterday, Salva Kiir will present SPLM’s vision for a final settlement of peace in Darfur. He could also act as an intermediary between the senior leaders of the ruling National Congress Party and the rebel factions, Arman suggested, although it is not clear that NCP intends to use this channel. Khalil and Abdel Wahid have been the most reluctant rebel leaders to participate in the Doha peace process. Abdel Wahid agreed last week to join the talks, but Khalil Ibrahim refuses.

File Photo, Government of Southern Sudan: Senior SPLM leaders traveled to Chad in October 2008, where they met with the JEM Chairman Khalil Ibrahim.  Those pictured include: SPLM Secretary General Pa’gan Amum Okiech,  South Sudan Representative to the USA Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, JEM Chairman Khalil Ibrahim, and SPLM Deputy Secretary General Yasir Arman.