Unamid head meets with AU, Darfur rebels, and Arab League

The head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid), Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, facilitated a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday between the chairwoman of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Minni Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM), and Dr Jibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).  “This meeting is a significant opportunity for the movements and the African Union to exchange views and for building a common understanding of the basis for a lasting political settlement for Darfur,” Ibn Chambas said, according to an Information Note released by Unamid on Saturday. Minawi and Ibrahim affirmed their commitment “for peace, a united Sudan with a national identity that reflects its cultural and religious diversity, and the need for a national dialogue to address holistically the problems facing the country”. They urged the AU to become fully engaged in the political process and assist the Sudanese parties to realise these goals.  The chairwoman welcomed the commitment of the armed movement leaders to peace, the unity of their country, a comprehensive and negotiated solution to Sudan’s issues, and the holding of national dialogue. Reflecting on the experience of the African National Congress of South Africa, she advised: “There will always be problems of mistrust, scepticism and doubts when people have been at war for decades.”  The head of Unamid urged the movements to join the national dialogue proposed by Sudanese President Al Bashir in January, as a workable option towards bringing a comprehensive solution to the crises in Darfur and all of Sudan. Zuma similarly, encouraged them to continue to work with Unamid and other stakeholders to formulate a strategy on how to conduct the national dialogue.  Arab League During his visit to Addis Ababa, Ibn Chambas also met envoys of the Arab League member states accredited to Ethiopia, and briefed them on the situation in Darfur, highlighting the security situation, including the rise in inter and intra-communal conflicts, and continuing belligerency between the Sudanese government and armed resistance movements with their negative impact on the humanitarian situation which has worsened.  The head of Unamid discussed his efforts towards facilitating an inclusive and sustainable political process to bring the Darfur conflict to a successful and acceptable conclusion for all stakeholders. He stressed the need for the support and goodwill of the international community, including the Arab League, to make the national dialogue proposed by the President Omar Al Bashir transparent and credible. File photo: Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Albert González Farran/Unamid)