KHARTOUM, 31 August 2005 — The Sudanese government has authorized its delegation to the next round of Darfur peace talks to conclude an agreement with the rebels, the vice president said yesterday. Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha spoke after meetings with the chief African Union mediator in the peace negotiations, Salim Ahmed Salim.
The AU mediates the Darfur talks and maintains some 5,000 peacekeepers in Darfur. Salim, who also met with President Omar Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, said he received assurances from them that progress would be made in the sixth round of talks, due to begin Sept. 15 in Abuja, Nigeria. “The African Union will do its best to see to the success of the coming round of peace talks,” Salim said.
Taha, who handles the Darfur file, said the government would enter the talks with the hope that this round would be the final one. “We do really appreciate efforts exerted by the African Union and the efforts exerted by Dr. Salim in particular for finding a just settlement to this question,” Taha said. Salim stressed that the unrest in Darfur must be resolved not only for peace but also from a humanitarian standpoint.
