Sudan and Darfur’s LJM rebels to sign a peace agreement within weeks
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June 1, 2011 (DOHA) — Sudanese government and the Liberation and
Justice Movement (LJM) will sign a peace agreement within three weeks,
the two parties said one day after the adoption of a framework
document for peace in Darfur by Darfur stakeholder conference.
JPEG - 21.7 kb
Presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen, left, and LJM leader
El-Tijani El-Sissi sign the ceasefire and framework agreement in Doha
Thursday March 18, 2010 (AP)
Over 500 delegates from Darfur region representing the internally
displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, civil society groups and tribal
leaders on Tuesday endorsed a Peace Document that can serve as basis
for any peace agreement between the government and rebel groups.
The Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé said this approach allows to
surmount the divisions of rebel groups which can sign bilateral
agreements with the central government without abrogating or
contradicting each others.
Khartoum government and LJM rebels negotiated since March 2010 a peace
deal to end the eight year conflict but still diverge over security
arrangements and the appointment of vice-president from the region.
Also the group demands to cancel a referendum on Darfur administrative
status.
"Within two or three weeks a peace agreement should be signed (with
the government), however we did not yet agree with mediation on the
date of signing," said Tijani El-Sissi in an interview with Sudan
Tribune and Radio Dabanga today in Doha.
He also said they are expecting to reach very soon a compromise with
the government over the two outstanding issues besides the referendum.
Further the government top negotiator Amin Hassan Omer indicated in a
separate interview that they expect to affix their signatures on a
preliminary agreement within a week and to hand it to the mediation
which will determine the date of the signing ceremony.
In accordance with the peace document endorsed by the stakeholders, a
vice-president from Darfur should be appointed by the president of the
republic. Amin Hassan Omer told the stakeholders conference that the
government accepts to appoint a deputy president from the restive
region.
El-Sissi said they are discussing with government on the criteria
according to which this vice-president would be selected. He further
said if the latter is appointed by the president this would be a
permanent dividend of peace for Darfur but if he is elected this will
be another issue.
Amin for his part, stressed that only the president will choose who
will be his deputy and nobody else. He also disclosed that the rebel
groups request to appoint someone from their ranks but said that the
government rejects such demand.
"The fact that we accepted the representation of Darfur people at the
level of the vice-president should not conduct us to another demand:
the allocation of this post to the rebel groups," he said.
The Sudanese government negotiator said it is not in the interest of
peace to appoint someone from the rebel groups, the ruling National
Congress Party or the other political forces.
"The most important that he should be from Darfur because they believe
he will take care of the interests of Darfur region.".
Since last April Sudan said a referendum on Darfur status should be
held in line with Abuja peace deal of 2006. The government announced
that the vote will be organized in July.
El-Sissi ruled out the organization of the referendum during the
announced period saying it would not be possible to hold the vote
during July due to the start of the rainy season.
Amin admitted the referendum would be delayed after the signing of a
peace agreement. He however he pointed out they demand to hold this
vote before the adoption of the permanent constitution and not after.
(ST)
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