Sudanese President arrives at Um Jaras in Chad

The president of Sudan on Saturday arrived at eastern Chad’s Um Jaras to address the closing session of the Um Jaras Forum for Peace, Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in Darfur today. Al Bashir’s arrival was preceded by that of Second Vice President Hassabo Mohammed Abdel Rahman, who led the Sudanese delegation to the opening of the forum, which began Wednesday. He was received at the airport by Chadian President Idris Deby, according to the Sudan News Agency (Suna). It is expected that the two leaders will be presented with a document on the conclusions of the five-day forum. Deby has a potentially critical role to play in mediating rising conflict in North Darfur. He is a member of the Zaghawa Bidyat clan, which is related to Darfur tribes, and he is married to a daughter of Musa Hilal, the Darfur militia leader who recently defected from Sudan’s ruling party, and established control over several towns in North Darfur. During the opening session of the conference on Wednesday, President Deby expressed the hope that the Second Um Jaras Forum will produce tangible results for the achievement of peace and security in the region, saying, “I pledge to do all I can to push the peace process in Darfur.” In a statement on its website, the Chadian presidency emphasised the significance of the conference, saying, “More than 300 people from different communities of the western Sudanese region have joined this significant meeting for reconciliation.” The Sudanese state media, citing remarks by Minister of Justice, Mohamed Bushara Dosa, reported that the Forum enjoys broad support from Sudanese political parties, mentioning the Popular Congress Party and the National Umma Party. The Justice and Equality Movement, which fights also in South Kordofan and more recently in the conflict in Unity State in South Sudan, announced its boycott of the Um Jaras conference. JEM spokesman, Jibril Adam Bilal, explained to Radio Dabanga that they see the conference as having a narrow focus related to only one group, noting that JEM will not respect any outcomes of the conference. The first Um Jaras Forum took place October 2013. Apart from host President Deby, Dr Tijani Sese, chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority, Dr Amin Hassan Omar, the head of the governmental Darfur Peace Follow-up Office, and a number of prominent leaders of the Zaghawa tribe attended. File photo: President Idris Deby of Chad and Omar al Bashir of Sudan (Suna) Related:Al Bashir, Deby in Um Jaras a ‘show’: Darfur rebels (28 March 2014) ‘Um Jaras Forum to offer effective solutions for Darfur’: Chad President (27 March 2014) Chad President concludes two-day visit to Sudan (24 December 2013) Sudanese Justice Minister defends Um Jaras Forum (27 November 2013) Chad President ‘interfering in Sudanese affairs’: Rebels (4 November 2013)