‘Cease military hostilities, join peace process’

Special envoys of 14 countries ask armed opposition groups in Darfur to enter talks
Special envoys from 14 countries asked armed opposition groups in Darfur to cease military hostilities and join the Darfur peace process without preconditions after their meeting in El Geneina, West Darfur on Wednesday.
The special envoys included those from the European Union and African Union. “The door has not yet closed but it is narrowing,” the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) chief Ibrahim Gambari said.
He also had strong words for those who support the hold-out movements: “They are supporting war, more violence, more killings, more displacements, and more suffering of the Darfur people.”
The envoys also noted the need to take targeted measures against those who continue to undermine the peace process.
The participants welcomed the signing on July 14 of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) between the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) as an important step in advancing peace in Darfur. UNAMID will be assisting the parties in dissemination and implementation of the DDPD.
The envoys stressed the importance of making sustained and rapid progress in the implementation of the agreement to create tangible improvements in the lives of the Darfuris.
“The envoys also agreed that the people of Darfur need support for the creation of sustainable livelihoods with early recovery and development activities. These will contribute to building the trust and confidence between the parties critical to a political solution,” he said. “There is no durable peace without development.”
The envoys expressed concern at the continuing insecurity in some parts of Darfur and called on the Government of Sudan to curb criminality and bring perpetrators to justice. They strongly condemned the attack against UNAMID patrol teams on October 10 near Zamzam IDP camp in North Darfur which resulted in the death of three peacekeepers and the wounding of five.
They commended the mission for its robust military posture, regardless of the sacrifices, and its contribution to stability and security where peacekeepers are present in Darfur.
The participants noted with concern the continued belligerent posture taken by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)-Abdul Wahid and SLA-Mini Minawi. They urged the government and the LJM to remain flexible and committed to finding a comprehensive solution by allowing other movements to join the peace process.
The purpose of the Fourth Retreat was to take stock of recent developments in Darfur, and generally in Sudan following the independence of South Sudan, and to agree on next steps for international support for the ongoing Darfur peace process