Sudan, Darfur LJM to review mediation’s proposal before upcoming talks

The international mediators of the Darfur conflict will present a draft peace agreement to the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement. The mediators expect to use the document as the basis for the agenda of the negotiations now scheduled to begin 29 September. Both the government and LJM confirmed their intention to participate in the talks.A drafting committee commissioned by the mediators proposed the new peace document to the mediation at a meeting at the Doha Sheraton Hotel on Monday. Sudan’s ambassador to Qatar, Ibrahim Faqiri, said that the draft Darfur Peace Agreement will be presented to the parties for review before the resumption of negotiations.

The Liberation and Justice Movement headed by Dr. Tijane Sese confirmed it will participate in the Doha negotiations. However, Abdullah Mursal, the movement’s spokesman, expressed disatisfaction that the government refuses to discuss its own strategy document for peace in Darfur. The government strategy, which has been made public, drew criticism from rebels and opposition parties for downplaying the importance of a peace deal, emphasizing instead development. The LJM spokesman told Radio Dabanga from Doha that the mediators informed them that the government refused to include this on the agenda, as well as the issue of the deteriorating security situation in the region.The Qatari mediator said that the mediation discussed with the government its strategy document. Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud said that the mediators were informed by the government that the new strategy does not conflict with the Doha negotiations, but rather is complementary to it.

Al Mahmoud, who presided over the meeting on Monday, said that he expects all of the parties to the Darfur conflict to sign a final peace agreement before the end of this year and before the independence referendum for South Sudan. Al Mahmoud said that the draft peace document will be the basis on which negotiations will be conducted in order to reach peace in the region.

Photo: Qatari Minister of State Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the leading international mediator next to United Nations-African Union representative Djibril Bassole.