A truce agreement in Darfour valid for 45 days, renewable
Sudan, Politics, 4/9/2004

The delegations of the Sudanese government and the two rebel movement in Darfour signed in Njamina yesterday a truce agreement for 45 days with the aim of facilitating the access of humanitarian aid to the district.

The Sudanese minister of investment who presides over the reconciliation committee in Darfour, Sharif Ahmad Omar Bader, said "we feel happy over leaving this room and returning back to Khartoum with this agreement." He added "there is no losser and no winner. We have reached a consensus, and the only winner is Darfour and Sudan."

On behalf of the Sudanese government, the agreement was signed by Bader and Meni Menawi signed it for the Sudanese liberation army, and Muhammad Saleh Hameed for the Justice and equality movement."

According to the agreement, the warring sides vow to halt the fighting within the next 72 hours and for 45 days to be renewed. The agreement also states that the sides involved will guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid to Darfour and releasing all prioners of war. The delegations also vow to return back to the meeting within 15 days in Njamina for new negotiations on political issues.

The Sudanese minister of state for foreign affairs, Nabib al-Khaier Abdul Wahab, announced earlier that the agreement was signed on Wednesday but sources in one of the two rebel movements which denied that said a protocol was reached to facilitate the arrival of aid and no truce was signed. The negotiations were held in Njamina under the supervision of the President of Chad, Idris Deibi.

For his part, Sudan's foreign minister Othman Ismael said that the Sudanese army "will besiege any group or forces outside the armed forces making attempts to damage the civilians or obstruct the arrival of relief aid and they will be controlled," in remarks to the government pro militias of al-Junjuwid. The minister added that the government's authorities formed a ministerial committee to make sure of " opening up passages for relief " and that a shelter will be ensured for damaged sides from the conflict before the fall of the rain season in July.

Previous Stories:
  Sudan's two conflicting sides to sign an agreement on Saturday in Kenya   (4/8/2004)
  Washington, Khartoum reject Annan's call for foreign military intervention in Darfour   (4/8/2004)
  First direct meeting between the Sudanese government and Darfour rebels: settling main differences   (4/7/2004)

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