Two major rebel groups attend Darfur peace forum in Addis Ababa
The All Inclusive Peace and Security in Darfur Technical Workshop, co-organised by Unamid and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) began today in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The three-day ‘technical workshop’ aims to draw the non-signatory Darfur rebel movements to the negotiating table. Of the Sudan Revolutionary Front member movements, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) refused to participate, but the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Dr Jibril Ibrahim, responded. From Addis Ababa, Minni Minawi reported to Radio Dabanga that during the first day the humanitarian situation in Darfur was discussed, in relation to international humanitarian law, human rights, previous peace agreements (N’Djamena, Abuja, and Doha), and the reasons for their failure. “We affirmed that humanitarian situation in Darfur is tragic and catastrophic, with militiamen raping, killing and plundering with impunity. Yet, the government’s biggest role in the crisis is that it has prevented and continues to prevent the delivery of relief to those in need.” Minawi explained during the workshop that his group “came here consciously to sit together and offer our ideas for peace.” The chief negotiator of JEM, Ahmed Tugud Lisan, told Radio Dabanga that the workshop aims to figure out the position of the non-signatory rebel movements to the Darfur peace process and to find a way to begin a new peace process. He said that the JEM have reiterated their insistence on a comprehensive solution for the whole of Sudan, and not a partial solution for Darfur only, as happened in Doha. The opening session of the technical workshop, which started with a minute of silence in respect of the death of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was attended by Ambassador Sajo Jalow, Current Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council, Ambassador Salomon Abebe, Director of the African Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Twolde G. Redda, Director of Peace and Security in IGAD and Ambassador Mahmood Khan from the African Union Commission. News photo: Delegates stand at the opening session of the All Inclusive Peace and Security in Darfur Technical Workshop (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid) Related: Few rebels to attend UN Darfur peace talks (6 December 2013)
The All Inclusive Peace and Security in Darfur Technical Workshop, co-organised by Unamid and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) began today in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The three-day ‘technical workshop’ aims to draw the non-signatory Darfur rebel movements to the negotiating table.
Of the Sudan Revolutionary Front member movements, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) refused to participate, but the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Dr Jibril Ibrahim, responded.
From Addis Ababa, Minni Minawi reported to Radio Dabanga that during the first day the humanitarian situation in Darfur was discussed, in relation to international humanitarian law, human rights, previous peace agreements (N’Djamena, Abuja, and Doha), and the reasons for their failure. “We affirmed that humanitarian situation in Darfur is tragic and catastrophic, with militiamen raping, killing and plundering with impunity. Yet, the government’s biggest role in the crisis is that it has prevented and continues to prevent the delivery of relief to those in need.”
Minawi explained during the workshop that his group “came here consciously to sit together and offer our ideas for peace.”
The chief negotiator of JEM, Ahmed Tugud Lisan, told Radio Dabanga that the workshop aims to figure out the position of the non-signatory rebel movements to the Darfur peace process and to find a way to begin a new peace process. He said that the JEM have reiterated their insistence on a comprehensive solution for the whole of Sudan, and not a partial solution for Darfur only, as happened in Doha.
The opening session of the technical workshop, which started with a minute of silence in respect of the death of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was attended by Ambassador Sajo Jalow, Current Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council, Ambassador Salomon Abebe, Director of the African Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Twolde G. Redda, Director of Peace and Security in IGAD and Ambassador Mahmood Khan from the African Union Commission.
News photo: Delegates stand at the opening session of the All Inclusive Peace and Security in Darfur Technical Workshop (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid)
Related: Few rebels to attend UN Darfur peace talks (6 December 2013)
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