Panafrican News Agency

Sudan Govt, rebels sign pre-negotiation agreement

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese government and Darfur rebel organizations, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) of Minni Menawe and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of Jibril Ibrahim, on Thursday signed a “pre-negotiation agreement” in the German capital Berlin.

Media reports in Khartoum said the government's chief delegate, Amin Hassan Omar, confirmed that the three parties signed the pre-negotiation agreement at the German Foreign Ministry ahead of negotiations to be held in Doha, Qatar.

The date for the Doha negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace in Darfur, West Sudan, has not been set.

The talks that resulted in signing the pre-negotiation agreement were held under the auspices of the German government. Omar said those in attendance were the German State Foreign Minister, head of UN-African Mission in Sudan (UNAMID) Jeremiah Mamabolo and the Special Representatives of Qatar, the US, Britain, Norway and France.

The two sides have for about one year attended intermittent meetings to reach this stage. The UN peacekeepers in Darfur said the region is now calm and apart from some inter-communal fighting the rebellion has dwindled noticeably.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir early this week toured three out of Darfur’s five states, accompanied by diplomats and heads of NGOs where, he said, he was ready to reach peace with rebels willing to do so, otherwise peace would be imposed.
-0- PANA MO/MA 6Dec2018