UNION AFRICAINE


UNIأO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P.O. Box: 3243 Tel: (251-11) 551 38 22 Fax: (251-11) 551 93 21
Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: africa-union.org

7TH ROUND OF THE INTER-SUDANESE PEACE TALKS ON THE
CONFLICT IN DARFUR

The Commissions Continue In-depth Negotiations

The Wealth Sharing and Security Arrangements Commissions have, during the past few days, continued to engage in in-depth negotiations on the outstanding issues on their respective Agendas.

Regarding the Wealth Sharing Commission in which substantial progress has continued to be made, there have been several working group meetings as well as bilateral consultations involving the AU Mediation, and the delegations of the Government of the Sudan (GoS) and the Movements. Following those meetings, the Commission has resolved a good number of difficult outstanding issues, thanks in particular to the active collaboration of the Sudanese Parties with the assistance of the Resource Persons.

The issues in question include that of land; representation in the Fiscal and Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission (FFAMC); the question of establishment of Darfur Reconstruction and Development Fund (DRDF) and the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM). With regard to the few remaining unresolved issues, the AU Mediation today submitted compromise proposals to the Sudanese Parties, which promised to study them and communicate their positions in due course.

For its part, the Security Arrangements Commission also made some progress on the two Items under consideration in a Mediation Harmonized Paper regarding “Strengthening the Security of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps, and the Safety of Humanitarian Relief Routes.” While agreement was reached on some issues, the AU Mediation will work out compromise proposals on the outstanding issues for submission to the Parties for consideration and eventual adoption.

As for the Power Sharing Commission in which the Sudanese Parties had completed presentation of their arguments and viewpoints on all the Agenda Items, the AU Mediation is currently holding intensive internal consultations on the next steps to advance the negotiations.

Abuja, 13 February 2006

PRESS CONTACT:
Noureddine Mezni
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