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US envoy holds rare direct talks with Darfur rebel JEM
Wednesday 16 April 2008 05:50. Printer-Friendly version Comments...

April 15, 2008 (PARIS) — The US efforts to boost efforts in the war ravaged region of Darfur took an unprecedented turn Tuesday with a senior official holding a rare meeting with a rebel movement in France.


US special envoy for Sudan Richard Williamson is seen in Khartoum in February 2008 (AFP) The US special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson met with a high level delegation from Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to discuss the resumption of peace talks and cessation of hostilities in Darfur.

JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein told Sudan Tribune from Paris that the meeting was supposed to include Khalil Ibrahim leader of JEM but said that “logistical difficulties due to his presence in Darfur” prevented him from attending.

However Hussein disclosed that that Williamson had phone conversation with Ibrahim earlier today and that the latter will meet with the US envoy “very soon” to discuss ways of “bringing about a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Darfur”.

The meeting is the first of its kind since the US administration imposed sanctions on Ibrahim for his role and accused him of “activity aimed at further destabilizing the situation on the ground [in Darfur]”.

Last year a US state department official speaking to Sudan Tribune said that “Ibrahim’s agenda is that of Hassan Turabi, the head of the Popular Congress Party and an ex-ally of President Al-Bashir”.

The official elaborated by saying that it is clear to the US administration that Ibrahim is focused on Khartoum and not on the crisis of his people in Darfur.

The JEM delegation in the talks with the US envoy was headed by Dr. Mahmoud Abakar Tinawi, the vice chairperson of the general congress; Dr El-Tahir Adam El-Faki, the Chairman of JEM Legislative Council and Ahmed Hussein who is JEM spokesperson and in charge of relations with Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The delegation also included Ahmed Tugud Lisan, JEM political secretariat and chief negotiator; Dr. Abdullahi Osman El-Tom, in charge of JEM Bureau for Training and Strategic Planning; Jibreel Ibrahim, economic adviser and Sadiq Hassan head of JEM office in France.

The JEM spokesperson said that the US official “emphasized Bush’s desire to help Sudanese parties reach a peaceful settlement and ending the plight of Darfurian people”.

“He told us that the US is looking for ways to achieve peace in Darfur before the end of Bush’s second term and the pivotal role JEM could play” Hussein said.

The Darfur rebel group underscored to Williamson the need for the full deployment of UN-AU hybrid force (UNAMID) for a “constructive environment”. The US official raised the need for cessation of hostilities “in the coming period”.

JEM is thought to have the largest military rebel force in Darfur and has gained extra prominence in recent months through a series of clashes with government forces. But other groups, chief among the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) faction led by founder Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, have huge support among Darfur’s displaced populations.

But Hussein said that the JEM delegation told Williamson that the movement “is not just a military power but managed to transform itself in many parts of Darfur and that many people look at them for hope”.

“We thanked the US and President Bush for helping the people of Darfur and his devotion to the problems facing Sudan” he added.

JEM expressed their willingness to negotiate “immediately” saying that peace “is a strategic objective”.

However the delegation told the US envoy that there needs to be a mediation change and called for a sole mediator to replace the U.N.’s Darfur envoy, Jan Eliasson, and his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim.

The rebel group also expressed to Williamson their “skepticism of Khartoum’s seriousness in pursuing peace as an alternative to a military solution” and that any future negotiations should address the “root causes of the conflict”.

Williamson met with SLM leader Al-Nur on Monday and is will fly to Rome for a meeting with a Sudanese government delegation on Wednesday.

The Sudanese delegation will be headed by presidential adviser Nafi Ali Nafi, foreign minister Deng Alor and Salah Gosh, the head of National Security and Intelligence Service. Sudan official news agency (SUNA) said the talks will tackle normalization of bilateral relations and that it will last till Saturday with a possibility of extension depending on the progress.

International experts estimate some 200,000 have died and 2.5 million have been forced from their homes in the five years of revolt in Darfur, which borders Chad.

Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing the central government of neglect. But rebel divisions and the government’s mobilization of mostly Arab tribal militia have created a mix of armed groups and a breakdown of law and order.

Washington calls the violence genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use and Khartoum rejects.

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Students invited to compete in Darfur fundraising challenge
By DAVID LAZARUS, Staff Reporter
Thursday, 17 April 2008
MONTREAL — A nationwide online fundraising competiton for students to help the children of Darfur was recently launched at Bialik High School Called the Darfur Challenge, the campaign is meant not only to raise funds, but also to raise awareness among students about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the region of Sudan where millions have been slaughtered and displaced by civil strife over the last four years, and to bolster advocacy initiatives, said Bialik student Adam Shapiro, one of the organizers of the competition.

The schools that raise the most money will win valuable prizes.

“We based it on a similar campaign in the U.S. called Dollars for Darfur,” which raised some $400,000, Shapiro said in a telephone interview for which he was joined by two other Bialik student organizers, Lauren Pinkus and Shawn Greenstone.

Shapiro, 15, earlier won praise for founding the Human Promise: Young Voices for Darfur, a youth-led movement of Quebec high school students whose goal is to educate their peers about the genocide in the Darfur region.

Although the competition is aimed primarily at elementary and high school students, almost any other type of youth group – from sports teams to groups of friends to siblings – can also enter.

“Any fundraising idea is good,” Pinkus said, adding that even though the competition is open to virtually anybody, it’s hoped that Jewish schools will lead the way because humanitarian issues are “Jewish issues.”

“We are building on the number of schools,” she said. “It’s all about kids looking out for other kids.”

What is unique about the competition, Shapiro said, is that it is being run entirely through “viral marketing,” that is, tools such as Facebook, MySpace, e-mail and online registering will be utilized to maximize recruitment as well as the competition’s potential.

Hundreds of schools have been sent letters inviting them to participate. At writing, the Darfur Challenge website, www.darfurchallenge.org, listed participating schools in Montreal, in Ontario and in British Columbia. The website is being used for all registration as well as for access to tools and resources including photos, logos, T-shirts and fundraising advice.

The main link on the site is the “Campaign Resources” menu, which downloads a “kit” that includes fundraising ideas and an event-planning guide, and gives advice on being an effective leader and how to attract media attention.

The Darfur Challenge officially ends May 21, but funds can be turned in until May 30.

The initiative, Shapiro said, is being co-sponsored by the advocacy coalition Save Darfur Canada, with proceeds earmarked for War Child Canada, which provides humanitarian aid to child victims of war, and for Save Darfur Canada’s advocacy work.

Among those attending the official launch at Bialik were Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, a prominent figure in local Darfur advocacy; Father John Walsh of St. Jean Brébeuf Parish; and Holocaust survivor Leslie Vertes, who told students that young people are duty-bound to learn from the Holocaust in regard to the Darfur crisis.

Sudan’s Mahdi proposes tribal conference to ease Sudan Chad tension

April 15, 2008 (PARIS) — The Former Sudanese Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Umma Party proposed to hold a conference for the tribal and traditional leader of all the ethnic groups disseminated between the Sudan and Chad.


Sadiq al-Madi greeting Chadian President Idris Deby at the Presidential Palace N’Djamena on Monday April 14, 2008 The Chadian President, Idriss Deby received Sadiq al-Mahdi in the Presidential Palace on Monday April 14, 2008 to discuss a peace plan to defuse tension between the two neighbouring countries.

A Umma Party delegation led by Sadiq al-Mahdi proposed a plan to reconcile Khartoum and N’Djamena. A Chadian official, who requested anonymity, said the former Prime Minister suggested to hold a conference for the tribal leaders in the war affected areas in eastern Chad and western Sudan to reconcile them.

"Al-Mahdi proposed to convene this meeting for the traditional leaders because he believes that the solution should come from the ground" the source said.

The Zaggawa ethnic group, Al-Mahamiyed and Tama tribes are among groups concerned groups living in Chad and Sudan and involved in the internal conflicts in the two countries.

According to the Chadian Presidency website, Sadiq al-Mahdi told Deby he can not remain indifferent towards current conflict between Chad and Sudan, two neighbouring countries, linked by history. He further said that his plan aiming at re-establishing "peace and harmony between the two countries."

"The proposal will be discussed by the highest authorities in Chad who, I am sure, will give their agreement in principle," al-Mahdi said following the meeting. He further pledged that the Umma Party will do its utmost to achieve the objective he has set: reconciliation between Chad and Sudan.

Darfur region was considered as the most important popular base for the Umma Party before the 1989 Islamist coup d’etat led by General Omer al-Bashir.

The meeting was attended by the Chadian Ambassador to Sudan, Baharadine Haroun, and two members from the Umma Party.

(ST)

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April 14, 2008 (PARIS) — The US special Envoy to Sudan, discussed with Sudan Liberation Movement founder leader the deployment of peacekeeping troops and international efforts for a comprehensive settlement to Darfur crisis.


Abdelwahid al-Nur In a meeting held in the French capital, Paris, Richard Williamson and Abdel-Wahid al-Nur discussed on Monday the deployment of the 26000 joint U.N.-African Union troops in Darfur charged with the protection of civilians in the region and the creation of a conducive environment to resume the peace process.

Al-Nur who described the meeting as “very constructive” told Sudan Tribune that the meeting discussed US efforts to speed up the deployment of the international troops in the region.

The security situation has dramatically deteriorated in the region despite the official take over of the hybrid force since last January, the rebel leader said.

“While we relentlessly repeating our demand for the conflict suspension the government and its militias continue to wage attacks and practice the conflict escalation policy,” he said.

Janjaweed attacks against El-Fasher inhabitants, Nyala and Korma, the killing of local chief in Kalma camp of IDPs, the bombing of last week in Jebel Marra "all these attacks are just a repetition of what happened last month, last year; or yesterday nothing new and nothing changed" he added.

The rebel leader said the meeting discussed Bush Administration efforts to support the effective deployment of the 26000 troops on the ground because it will help to change the course of “this tragic situation.”

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon early April, U.S. Presidential Envoy for Darfur Richard Williamson, urged the UN chief to deploy more 3,600 new African troops by June. Also, Washington pledged $100 million to train and equip peacekeepers to be deployed as part of the U.N.-AU mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID.

Only 9,000 of the required 26,000 international troops and police have been deployed in Darfur. Western governments have blamed Khartoum for the slow pace of deployment, saying it has dragged its feet in approving the composition of the force and set up unnecessary obstacles.

Al-Nur also said the meeting discussed the ongoing efforts to engage the political process to end the conflict. "We explained our vision in this regard to the US envoy” he added.

The rebel leader who requires the protection of civilians and the return of displaced to their villages, asks to dedicate the talks to discuss the root causes of the conflict in order to preserve the rights of Darfur people within a democratic Sudan.

He also said they agreed to continue dialogue and consultations in order to advance the peace process in the region.

(ST)