Darfur
Actors and the absence of Road Maps
By Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of
Sudan
is reported to be calling the Rebel groups to unify.
It claims that two dozens or so rebels groups are stalling the negotiations due to their numerousness.
Whilst blaming the
Darfur
Movements, the regime itself has not put forward its position prior to resumption of new negotiations. We must bear in mind that JEM and UN-AU have already done their part by offering their own road maps.
Abdel Ahid, a main SLM leader has also outlined his road mapr.
He said in this regard: “our proposition in this regard is to resume the peace talks with the two parties that have rejected
Darfur
Peace Agreement (DPA). The mediators can invite the newly created factions to join one of the two rebel forces in order to enable them to bring their contribution to the negotiations”.
US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, criticised stalling tactics (Cat and Mouse Game) by Sudan that are holding up deployment of reinforced international peacekeeping force in Darfur. She is reported to have made clear growing impatience over delays in deploying the approved
Darfur
force which was first authorised by the UN Security Council about a year ago.
The
Tripoli
Consensus on the political process for
Darfur
expressed support for the AU and UN Special Envoys’ activities. It encouraged them to intensify inclusive consultations. Moreover, the Consesus urged Mr. Salim Amed Salim and Mr. Jan Eliasson to rapidly finalise their road-map for renewed negotiations. The participants underlined the urgency to finding a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the
Darfur
crisis.
In
London
,
11th July 2007
, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon described 2007 described the humanitarian crisis in
Darfur
as "devastating," and said the world can no longer accept further delays in the peace process. The tragic cycle of violence has been allowed to continue for too long. I think the people in
Darfur
have suffered too much”.
Not surprinsgly,
the Collective view of people of Darfur is that
the international community and regional countries still need to put more pressure on the government of Sudan to provide an environment conducive to confidence-building before thinking about mediating fresh round of negotiations. The
Khartoum
regime is renowned for
its prevarication, rhetorics and purchase of hirelings to gain time as it did before.
We in the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) applaud and commend unreservedly the position of the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Pagan Amum in which he described the situation in Darfur and what is happening as “ethnic cleansing and”.
We likrwise appreciate his solidarity with the plight of
Darfur
people. His speech before the Sudanese community in
Cairo
on
July 6th 2007
, was honest and characerised by righteousness, a rare coin among
Sudan
’s politicians. This position also tallies well with that of the SPLM special envoy to
Darfur
, Rev. Clement Janda.
The Reverend censured statements made by the SPLM Sudanese Ambassador to USA, John Lueth Ukec, on May 30th 2007 criticising the international community for not treating the Darfur rebels who rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) as “terrorists” and as was agreed in Abuja
"The SPLM has never before regarded the issue of Darfur as terrorism; the SPLM regarded the issue of Darfur as an issue of marginalization.”
The above two statements made by Mr. Amum and Rev. Janda have restored confidence and trust of the Dafur people in the SPLM.
Earlier, Ukec’s statement shattered credibility of the SPLM among
Darfur
people and who felt that they have been let down and betrayed by the SPLM of whom Ukec is a member.
People of
Darfur
consider south of
Sudan
as their “
Jubraka
”, a backyard farm, in
Darfur
language, that is an extension of the household and a reliable means of sustenance and survival.
Given the explicit sincerity and genuineness shown by our two compatriots Pagan and Rev. Janda JEM is ready now to engage the SPLM for peace in Darfur,.
Our comrades in the
Sudan
People's Liberation Army (SPLM) can rest assured that the demands of the people of
Darfur
will
NOT
be charged against gains achieved in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) known as the Naivasha Agreement. The demands of the people of
Darfur
will be charged against the
Northern Sudan
's share of power and wealth. As declared in numerous occasions before, the people of
Darfur
will never be spoilers of the CPA. They will strive to protect the achievements of the marginalized majority of the
Sudan
.
Our position has been made crystal clear that the precipitously imposed
Abuja
peace agreement (DPA) that we rejected in
Nigeria
in May 2006 should not be the base for the upcoming negotiations. We reiterate this now and again, because some elements in the
Khartoum
regime still remain callously out of touch with the suffering endured by the people of
Darfur
and insisting that DPA will be the reference
. They are completely unrealistic; they are living on
Cloud
Cuckoo
Land
’s costly logic! They are
naïve at their best and arrogant at worst.
We in JEM, consider the NCP has not learnt lessons from its blunders of the recent past. Their current stance and attitude is pathetic and deplorable. During and soon after
Abuja
talks, Non-signatories” felt bullied and cowed by the mediators who tried to force them to sign that hateful document, known as DPA in an unprecedented way. At this crucial time, we urge our companions in the SPLM who are partners in the ‘National Transitional Government’ with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to raise their explicit viewpoint on this matter and say it in a loud voice.
Recently,
the Political Advisor to the president, Dr. Mustafa Othman accused the SPLM of practicing brokerage in the
Darfur
issue and that they are (SPLA) not serious in their attempts to resolve the crisis and would offer nothing
!
The JEM leader, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, emphasized that “JEM is committed to peace as its ultimate goal,” and added “It is vital that the international community and the mediators are better aware of the demands of Darfurians including their rights to power and wealth-sharing
”.
It remains a challenge for all of us to work for sustainable and just peace that is acceptable to all and albeit vital for the people of
Sudan
in
Darfur
and
Sudan
at large.
Author’s address:
Dr. Mahmoud.A.Suleiman
Deputy Chairman for Justice & Equality Movement (JEM)
E-mail address:
[email protected]