Sunday, February 21, 2010

JEM & Sudanese gov't agreed on March 15 deadline - JEM said deal would be formally signed Tuesday in Qatar, Doha

HERE below is a historic photo of Darfur's rebel JEM Kordofan Sector chief Ahmed Wadiay being welcomed on arrival at Khartoum Airport on Saturday, 20 February 2010 to sign a peace agreement with the Sudanese government.

Reportedly, JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein said the peace deal would be formally signed in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday, 23 February 2010.

According to a report today at Sudan Tribune (see copy here below) Sudanese Presidential adviser in charge of Darfur dossier said yesterday they agreed with the JEM on March 15 as deadline for the signing of final peace agreement to end Darfur conflict in Doha.

Read more here below.

JEM Kordofan Sector chief Ahmed Wadiay

Photo: Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Kordofan Sector chief Ahmed Wadiay is welcomed on arrival to sign peace agreement with government at Khartoum Airport, February 20, 2010. Sudan's government signed an agreement with Darfur's rebel JEM on Saturday that would help resolve the conflict in the western region, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said. (Credit: Reuters)
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JEM said peace deal would be formally signed in Doha on Tuesday

JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein said the deal would be formally signed in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday, 23 February 2010.

Source: BBC News online report at 00:03 GMT, Sunday, 21 February 2010 - Key Darfur rebels sign ceasefire deal - excerpt:
Jem spokesman Ahmed Hussein said the deal would be formally signed in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday.

"It's a significant step for peace in Darfur," he told the Associated Press. "It is a considerable achievement for both parties."

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says the Jem is the most significant of the many rebel groups taking part in peace talks in Qatar, which aim to reach a final agreement by 15 March.

The Sudanese official in charge of the Darfur peace process, Ghazi Saleh al-Din, said other groups could also be included.

"It does not exclude other movements," he said. "I think we can try to emulate the agreement which we signed with Jem and try to speed up the process so that we can try to a final agreement as soon as possible."
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March 15 deadline for signing of final peace agreement in Doha

Sudanese Presidential adviser in charge of Darfur dossier said yesterday (Saturday, 20 Feb 2010) they agreed with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on March 15 as deadline for the signing of final peace agreement to end Darfur conflict in Doha.

Source: Sudan Tribune, Sunday, 21 February 2010 - Sudan, JEM to sign Darfur peace deal within three weeks - official - copy in full:
February 20, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Presidential adviser in charge of Darfur dossier said today they agreed with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on March 15 as deadline for the signing of final peace agreement to end Darfur conflict in Doha.

Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Attabani and Khalil Ibrahim, JEM leader, signed a preliminary framework agreement in Ndjamena including a temporary ceasefire, considered by Khartoum as most important issue in the deal. The framework agreement which should be developed in Doha outlined issues related to the power and wealth sharing and displaced and refugees.

A signing ceremony will be held in Doha likely a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the role of Qatar which hosted the talks between the two sides since last year.

Speaking at Khartoum airport following his return from Ndjamena, Ghazi said the two parties agreed complete negotiations and reach a final peace agreement on or before the 15th of March. The government had expressed keenness to sign a peace agreement before the general election scheduled for April 10.

The presidential adviser also stressed that Ndjamena agreement does not mean to exclude the other rebel groups in Doha who are expected to engage direct talks in addition to JEM with the government on Monday 22 February.

Gathered since January 24, the rebel groups — JEM, Sudan Liberation Movement Revolutionary Forces (SLM-RF) and Addis Ababa Group – failed to agree on the formation of a unified delegation to start talks with the government.

JEM which had signed a goodwill agreement with Khartoum on February 17, 2009, said the other two groups should merge under its leadership to avoid "chaos" and complications as it had been in Abuja where the rebel groups coordinated their positions. But the others rejected the proposition saying coordination is what they can offer to the powerful group.

Ndjamena breakthrough will allow holding peace negotiations in Doha as JEM reaffirmed its ascendancy over the two other groups supported by Libya and the US envoy to Sudan.

Ghazi told reporters that Ndjamena deal, which was secretly negotiated, does not mean to exclude the other rebel groups. He also said that the Joint Chief Mediator and the host country Qatar were aware of the talks in the Chadian capital. (ST)
JEM

Photo: JEM has been fighting the Sudanese government for seven years [File: EPA] Source: Aljazeera.net, Saturday 21 February 2010 - Darfur truce ahead of Sudan poll

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