Sudan government ‘to communicate’ with Darfur rebels

President Omar Al Bashir chaired the eighth meeting of the Higher Committee for Follow up of the Implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) at the Republican Palace on Sunday. The meeting decided on the formation of a committee to be chaired by the First Vice-President, Lt. Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih, to communicate with the non-signatory armed movements in Darfur. In a press statement after the meeting, Dr Amin Hassan Omar, the head of the Follow up Committee, said that the coming period will witness the completion of the peace process in Darfur, adding that the Committee will expedite the communication with the armed rebel movements. The Follow up Committee appreciated the role of Qatar in boosting the development process in Darfur and its financial commitment declared at the International Donor Conference on Support to Darfur, concluded on 8 April 2013. Dr Omar further welcomed the joint efforts of Qatar and the United Kingdom in implementing water projects in Darfur. The Committee also appreciated the ongoing efforts for development in Darfur, especially the construction of the Ingaz Highway. Dr Omar noted that the Follow up Committee was informed on the arrangements being made for establishment of Darfur Development Bank. He emphasised the important role of the Darfur Regional Authority for realising social peace and lauded the role of the regular armed forces in bolstering the peace process in Darfur region. The Follow up Committee welcomed the new members of the Follow up Committee, the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan (formerly JEM-Bashar), Bakhit Dabjo and his deputy. Dr Tijani Sese, chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority, First Vice-President, Lt. Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih, and Vice-President Hassabo Mohamed Abdel Rahman also attended. File photo: Dr Amin Hassan Omar Related:’Khartoum does not want peace’: public opinion Darfur (31 January 2014)Air raids on Darfur’s East Jebel Marra continue (30 January 2014)