Sudan government, rebels’ speech at Darfur peace talk launch

In anticipation of the start of the peace talks between the Sudanese government and two of the main Darfur rebel movements in Addis Ababa tomorrow, the mediating African Union panel held an opening session today. The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur boycotts the negotiations, and was absent in the Ethiopian capital. The opening session today (Sunday) was attended by a number of facilitators, delegates from the Sudan Revolutionary Front, and civil society groups. Leading AU mediator Thabo Mbeki opened the meeting by asking the Sudanese government on one side, and Dr Jibril Ibrahim’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) with the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Arko Minawi (SLM/A-MM) on the other side, to show seriousness into ending the crisis in Darfur. He emphasised the necessity to search for a comprehensive peace in Sudan (audio file below). Both leaders of the rebel groups confirmed this necessity. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the chief negotiator for the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Ahmed Tugud Lisan, shared his observations of the session. He described the speech of the leader of the government’s delegation, Amin Hassan Omar, as “frustrating”. “Omar claimed that the track for negotiations on a solution for Darfur will be the one in Doha… The government thereby proves immediately that it still holds on to its old way of thinking.” Speeches reveal parties’ intentions Tugud stressed that the peace agreement of Doha in 2011 no longer applies. “The peace talks in Addis Ababa could be the ground for a comprehensive solution, as long as the government shows its willingness.” The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), designed to address the root causes of the conflict in Darfur, was signed in May 2011 by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), and by JEM-Bashar in April 2013. In his speech, Omar said that the Sudanese government maintains its belief that the DDPD should be implemented, to lay a solid foundation for durable peace in Darfur. He emphasised the cessation of hostilities between the government and the rebels, “which we already discussed, but not concluded”. Finally, he called upon the JEM and the SLM-MM to subscribe to the DDPD. Minni Arko Minawi spoke to the attendees about the conflict in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states, the displacement, and the “miserable” situation for the people living there. The SLM-MM leader underscored that the National Dialogue process is considered as a track, alongside the track of negotiations between the SPLM-N and Khartoum on South Kordofan and Blue Nile. He pointed to the importance of a comprehensive solution. Abdel Wahid demands security first The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur has refused to take part in the Addis Ababa peace talks on the conflict in Darfur. The movement also rejected to participate in a preparatory workshop, which was organised by the AU mediation team. “What we need now, is not negotiating or sitting down with the government, but the improvement of the security situation, the disarmament of the militias, and stopping the killing and raping, as well as compensating the people in Darfur for their losses,” El Nur told Radio Dabanga. He argued that his current position does not mean that he is against peace. “Personally and morally, I cannot go to this opening session, while my sisters are being raped in Tabit and killings still continue in Darfur, Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile.” News photo: The opening session of the Darfur negotiations, mediated by the AU High-Implementation Panel, begins, with delegations of the Sudanese government, JEM, and SLM-MM (AUHIP) Related: Darfur rebels, Sudan govt. set for peace talks (19 November 2014) ‘Khartoum and SPLM-N rebels about to conclude peace deal’: Mbeki (17 November 2014) Darfur rebels address joint letter to UN Secretary-General (12 November 2014)