Sudan rebels, govt gather for Darfur talks

ABUJA – Pushed to end what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, Sudanese government envoys gathered in Nigeria yesterday for talks with rebel leaders from the western Darfur region.

Majzoub al-Khalifa Ahmad, a Cabinet minister and government delegate to the last, failed Darfur peace talks in July, led Sudan’s government delegation to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for talks that were expected to last one day. Two rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, assembled high-level delegations for the talks.Eighteen months of conflict in Darfur have killed tens of thousands and driven 1,2 million others from their homes.Tensions between nomadic Arab tribes and non-Arab African villagers exploded in February 2003 when the two Darfur rebel groups took up arms over what they regard as unjust treatment by the government in their struggle with Arab countrymen.The United Nations, the United States and others accuse Sudan’s government of backing pro-government Janjaweed militia in a violent ethnic-cleansing campaign of killing, rape and razing communities.Tacudi Bashi Nyan, a top Justice and Equality Movement delegate, was guardedly hopeful the conference could achieve real gains toward peace in Darfur.”We are optimistic, but I believe that this government hasn’t demonstrated enough seriousness,” Nyan told reporters yesterday.”The government is yet to put a stop to the activities of the Janjaweed, who are still killing people and attacking people.There is no security in the area.If these things are corrected, then we can have a good atmosphere for the talks.So a lot depends on circumstance,” Nyan said.In a goodwill gesture on the eve of peace talks in Nigeria, Sudan’s government said on Sunday it would cut the number of official paramilitary forces operating in Darfur by 30 per cent.- Nampa-APTwo rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, assembled high-level delegations for the talks.Eighteen months of conflict in Darfur have killed tens of thousands and driven 1,2 million others from their homes.Tensions between nomadic Arab tribes and non-Arab African villagers exploded in February 2003 when the two Darfur rebel groups took up arms over what they regard as unjust treatment by the government in their struggle with Arab countrymen.The United Nations, the United States and others accuse Sudan’s government of backing pro-government Janjaweed militia in a violent ethnic-cleansing campaign of killing, rape and razing communities.Tacudi Bashi Nyan, a top Justice and Equality Movement delegate, was guardedly hopeful the conference could achieve real gains toward peace in Darfur.”We are optimistic, but I believe that this government hasn’t demonstrated enough seriousness,” Nyan told reporters yesterday.”The government is yet to put a stop to the activities of the Janjaweed, who are still killing people and attacking people.There is no security in the area.If these things are corrected, then we can have a good atmosphere for the talks.So a lot depends on circumstance,” Nyan said.In a goodwill gesture on the eve of peace talks in Nigeria, Sudan’s government said on Sunday it would cut the number of official paramilitary forces operating in Darfur by 30 per cent.- Nampa-AP