KHARTOUM, 6 June 2005 — Stalled peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and exiled opposition groups are to resume in Cairo next weekend and continue until a final deal is reached, officials said yesterday. Talks between the government and the opposition National Democratic Alliance will start next Saturday, Sudanese state radio quoted Ibrahim Ahmed Omar, secretary-general of the ruling National Congress party as saying.
Omar also predicted that with many outstanding issues already resolved, an agreement could be signed a few days after the discussions commence, saying “the final agreement will be signed by the two sides on June 16.” The NDA, a coalition of northern, southern, eastern and western opposition groups, including the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement, confirmed talks with the government would resume on June 11. “The discussions will start on Saturday,” NDA vice president Abdul Rahman Saeed told AFP.
But he did not share the government’s optimism that a deal could be signed five days later, saying “it was possible, but not certain.” Saeed explained that the talks will kick off with meetings aimed at reaching a deal on how to implement an initial agreement the two sides signed in January, particularly on political and military issues. “We have already agreed,” he said, adding that the discussions will focus on “implementing what we have agreed upon.”
Meanwhile, Sudanese President Omar Bashir said he hoped rebels would join talks in the Nigerian capital next week aimed at reaching a peace deal for Darfur. “The government is committed to take part in the Abuja talks with a high-level delegation that possesses a full mandate and we hope observers and rebels will participate with high-level delegations too for reaching a peaceful political settlement that leads to peace and stability in Darfur,” Bashir said.
He said he hoped the round of talks starting on June 10 “will be a final one that paves the way for convening a comprehensive conference for the people of Darfur for boosting peace, stability, development and services in the region,” according to Omdurman Radio.
Darfur has been torn apart by conflict since a rebel uprising in early 2003 prompted the Khartoum government to unleash militias in a scorched-earth campaign in which tens of thousands have died and more than two million fled their homes, according to agencies. UN chief Kofi Annan, on a visit to the region last week, warned that time was fast running out to save Darfur, which the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
