Darfur Peace and Development

March 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration said today that it is imperative that a peace deal be reached in the war ravaged region of Darfur prior to the April elections and suggested that the crisis there has shifted attention from the South ahead of the 2011 referendum.

“There is going to be a lot of things that are keeping us from focusing on Darfur…. That’s why in my view we have this little window where we really need to get the framework solidified. And then we can reach out and really put some flesh on the bones” Gration said.

March 7, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – About 21 people were killed in tribal fighting that had occurred last week between Abdalla Maharia and Misseriya, in Khaur Ramla west of Nertiti, West Darfur, a local official told the AFP today.

Darfur rebels said last Friday that 15 people were killed and accused Khartoum government of instigating the clashes, but the governor Abu Al-Gassim Imam Al-Haj stated today the death toll raised to 21.

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March 2, 2010 (DOHA) – The Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), formed by ten rebel groups on Tuesday February 23, announced today in Doha the names of its executive bureau and other bodies, ahead of talks with the Sudanese government on a framework agreement.

The establishment of the new rebel group had been announced hours before the signing of a framework agreement including a temporary ceasefire between the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in a ceremony attended by the President Omer Al- Bashir, Idriss Deby of Chad, Isaias Afewerki of Eretria and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

27 February 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Invited by the head of UNAMID, special envoys for Sudan from China, France, United Kingdom, United States and European Union met Saturday to discuss “The nexus between Peace, Security, Recovery and Development in Darfur”.

Looking for a new dynamic for stability and security in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, UNAMID chief, seeks to create a link between the largest peacekeeping operation and the ongoing efforts for a political solution and improvement of humanitarian situation in Darfur.

February 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) denounced today ceasefire violations by the Sudanese army in Jebel Marra, a stronghold area of the Sudan Liberation Army led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur.

JEM “condemns the exploitation by Khartoum regime of a ceasefire outlined in the Framework Agreement signed with the Movement in February 23, 2010 to launch a sweeping attack on the positions of resistance in the Jebel Marra and to bomb peaceful villages and kill unarmed civilians,” read a statement released on Sunday.

February 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Ten Darfur rebel groups currently in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar announced today that they have joined together under a new umbrella called ‘The Liberation Movement for Justice’ removing one of the major obstacles that faced the mediators in Doha as they attempted to jumpstart peace talks with the Sudanese government to resolve the seven year conflict.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Revolutionary forces (SLM-RF) which includes six factions, United Resistance Forces (URF), Sudan Liberation Movement-Mainstream (SLM-M), Democratic Sudan Liberation Movement (D-SLM) and Democratic Justice and Equality Movement (D-JEM).

February 21, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Arab league(AL), the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) welcomed today the peace deal signed by Sudanese government and rebel Justice and equality movement in Ndjamena yesterday.

The Sudanese parties are expected to sign a peace agreement in a bid to end the seven year conflict in Darfur on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby are expected to attend the signing ceremony.

February 21, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government affirmed its willingness to continue dialogue with the US but warned that it will do so without abandoning its principles or interests.

“We have affirmed more than once that we are keen on [our] principles and on Sudan’s common interests in any dialogue with the U.S.,” Ghazi Salah Al-Deen, Sudanese presidential adviser, told reporters following a meeting with visiting US special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration in Khartoum.

February 19, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government has strongly condemned the attack on UNAMID police patrol on Tuesday in South Darfur, wounding seven Pakistani soldiers.

The Sudanese government arrested two people suspected of taking part in the attack. Noureddine Mezni, the UNAMID spokesperson said today the Sudanese authorities captured one of the two vehicles carjacked by the gunmen.

February 17, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Armed men ambushed a police convey of Darfur hybrid mission outside Nyala, capital of South Darfur state wounding seven peacekeepers yesterday, the UNAMID said.

The UN Secretary General in a recent report to the Security Council stressed that the “security environment continues to present significant risks to United Nations and humanitarian staff in Darfur”. He said the UNAMID personnel were deliberately attacked on several occasions.