PARIS, 20 September 2007 — One of Darfur’s most powerful rebel leaders will not take part in peace talks until a lasting cease-fire is put in place and security is restored, he said in an interview published yesterday.
Abdel Wahed Mohamed El-Nur has refused to join Darfur rebel commanders and groups who agreed a joint position last month, saying he wants international troops to disarm militias to secure the region before talks with the government.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Nur, whose backing is key to any peace deal, stuck to his position. “I will refuse to take part in political negotiations as long as my people continue on the ground to be massacred, raped, colonized,” he said.
Nur commands few troops but enjoys huge support among the 2.5 million people who have fled their homes to camps in Darfur and across the border in Chad during 4-1/2 years of fighting.
Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of marginalizing the arid west. Khartoum mobilized militias, known as Janjaweed, to quell the revolt. A 2006 peace deal was signed by only one of three negotiating factions, Nur’s rival Minni Arcua Minnawi.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that recent fighting in Darfur could derail peace talks he has announced will start in Libya next month. Ban announced the talks jointly with the Sudanese government on Sept. 6. He has reminded Khartoum that it promised a full cessation of hostilities ahead of the talks, due to start Oct. 27.
