US senior advisor invites Darfuri factions for meet

JEM spokesperson Jibril Adam Bilal welcomes initiative, says this will end the partial Doha peace treatyDane Smith, US senior advisor on Darfur, invited all armed Darfuri groups and the Sudanese government on Thursday to meet in the US in September, Jibril Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said.

Smith’s invitation to JEM came after talks in London where the delegation met the US official on Thursday. Bilal welcomed the US initiative for the meeting.

He told Radio Dabanga, “The initiative would mean an end to the partial peace treaty signed in Doha. Our delegation told Smith about the requirement to establish a good environment for talks. We want the release of all political prisoners by the government and an improvement in the humanitarian situation.”

Bilal added that they had also demanded strict action against pro-government militias who have been accused of abusing refugees in their camps.

Smith is currently on a visit to London to meet his counterparts in the country in order to discuss a way ahead on Darfur. The official also met members of humanitarian agencies and organizations in Geneva as part of this trip.