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Sudan Rebel Group Welcomes Salva Kiirās Mediation Role

   Peter Clottey 15 July 2010
   A  2009  file  photo  of  Sudanese rebel Justice and Equality Movement
   (JEM)  leader  Khalil  Ibrahim  during a Darfur peace meeting in Doha,
   Qatar

Photo: AFP

   A  2009  file  photo  of  Sudanese rebel Justice and Equality Movement
   (JEM)  leader  Khalil  Ibrahim  during a Darfur peace meeting in Doha,
   Qatar

   A  leading  member  of  the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement
   (JEM)  says  his  rebel  group will soon send a powerful delegation to
   hold consultations with south Sudanās President Salva Kiir.

   JEMās  spokesman  Ahmed  Aden  welcomed  Mr. Kiirās decision to act as
   mediator for an upcoming peace talks between his group, President Omar
   Hassan  Al-Bashirās  dominant  National  Congress Party (NCP), and the
   Sudan  Liberation  Army  (SLA)  as  well  as  other Darfur-based rebel
   groups.

   āWe  welcome  it,  and  I think that President Salva Kiir is in a good
   position to have (a) successful initiative in this because he has good
   relations with all the others and all the conflicting parties. We hope
   that the NCP (will) be wise enough and to have a positive reaction and
   a positive move to also welcome this move,ā he said.

   It is however not clear if the NCP will accept Mr. Kiirās mediation.

   Early  this  year,  JEM  withdrew  from  talks with President Bashirās
   government   after   accusing  the  administration  of  attacking  its
   positions inĀ Ā  Darfurās western region in the midst of negotiations.

   JEMās  chief  negotiator  Ahmed Tugod said his group was āfreezing the
   talks  to  protest  the  governmentās  cease-fire  violation including
   airstrikes and attacks by ground troopsā.

   The  rebel  group  also announced its refusal to abide by two previous
   agreements it signed with the government.

   The  government  is  currently  holding talks with Justice and Liberty
   Movement,  another  Darfur-based rebel group in Qatarās capital, Doha.
   The talks are aimed at reaching a peace deal by mid-July.

   But,  JEMās  spokesman  Aden  said  there would not be peace in Darfur
   without the full participation of his group.

   āThere  is  a deadlock now in Doha. Doha failed completely to help the
   conflicting  parties  to reach any kind of agreement. The humanitarian
   situation on the ground is worsening every day. The NCP and the regime
   in Khartoum want to (impede) some of the aid workers and make a lot of
   restrictions  on the ground, harassing the IDPās (internally Displaced
   People).  So,  the  situation  is very badā¦as in 2004 and 2005,ā Aden
   said.

   Salva  Kiir,  who  doubles as Sudanās first Vice President, decided to
   take  a  personal  role in resolving the ongoing Darfur conflict after
   Djibril  Bassole,  the  joint U.N./African Union mediator asked him to
   help resolve the crisis.

   Mr.  Kiir  is  expected  to  persuade the rebel groups to join another
   round of peace talks to resolve the Darfur crisis.

   Aden  said  only  a  political  solution could help resolve the Darfur
   crisis.

   āI  think  that  President  Salva  Kiir  has  the  ability to help the
   conflicting  parties  so  that  we  can  find  exit  strategies to the
   stalemate  and to the deadlock which we are having right now in Darfur
   and in Sudan in general,ā Aden said.

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