Darfur rebels, Qatar to meet in Paris

Minni Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM), has said that a meeting is scheduled to be held in Paris next week between Sudan’s armed movements and Qatar government representatives “to discuss and exchange views on solving the problems of Darfur”.

Minawi told Radio Dabanga on Tuesday said that “the Qataris have decided to sit with us next week in Paris for dialogue about what is happening in Darfur and what Qatar’s role is to be in Darfur”.

The armed movements will be represented by Minawi, Jibril Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and SLM-AW leader Abel Wahid El Nur. Minawi said the aim of the meetings is to foster understanding between the two countries about their respective roles, what they expect from Darfur, and to ascertain the requirements for peace.

Minawi: “We will review the so-called Doha Document. Our brothers and both countries have responded to the call, so we will sit down with them along with the JEM, as well as any other third parties from Darfur who wish to join the dialogue.”

Minawi added that the government is adhering to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) because it considers it “the ultimate solution is to escape from the peace and escape from their duties as a government towards peace and stability and the protection of civilians”.

Addis Ababa

Minawi’s acknowledgement of the Paris meeting comes in the wake of an announcement by the Sudanese government yesterday that it has received an invitation from the AU to participate in an informal meeting with two Darfur rebel movements in Addis Ababa.

The Head of Darfur peace office and government chief negotiator Amin Hassan Omer said that the AU has not set a date for the meeting yet, but that parties would include Jibril’s JEM and Minawi’s SLM-MM.