Africa Summit on Darfur opens in Abuja
Sudan-Regional, Politics, 8/24/2004

Nigerian Foreign Minister Olu Adeniji said on Monday that a six-way committee has been set up to outline the agenda of the peace talks between Khartoum and the two main Darfur rebel groups.

The committee will host representatives from the Arab League (AL), the United Nations (UN), Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, the Darfur rebels and the African Union (AU).

Sudanese Ambassador in Abuja Abul Raheem Khalil said the first round of talks, concluded Monday, tackled the viewpoints of the parties concerned.

The Sudanese delegation during the talks rejected a suggestion by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to send African peacekeeping troops to Darfur.

Sudanese Minister of Agriculture Majzoub al-Khalifa, the delegation head, said there is no need to dispatch African peacekeepers.

"Khartoum can for sure maintain security in Darfur," he said. The peace talks take place a week before the UN is to review progress made by the Sudanese government in disarming the Janjaweed militia held responsible for human rights violations in Darfur and in improving the humanitarian situation in the region.

Meanwhile, the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo discussed on Monday means to settle the conflict in Darfur and cooperation between the Arab League and the African Union on this problem.

Moussa said that he discussed with Obasanjo the agenda of peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels. He added that the outcome of the Arab ministerial council will be discussed at the negotiations.

Amr Moussa Monday asserted the Arab League's support for the African Union efforts to settle the situation in the Sudanese region of Darfur peacefully away from any foreign intervention or threats to use force or sanctions.

Addressing the inaugural session of a peace conference on the crisis in Darfur on Monday, Moussa asserted rejection of the use of force in solving the problem of Darfur, pointing out that the best way to solve the problem peacefully was through holding dialogue and giving enough time for realizing progress.

He pointed out to an agreement between the Arab League and the African Union, supported by the UN, on giving enough time for settling the problem through dialogue and negotiations.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa asks Arab states to launch Darfur popular fund-raising campaigns   (8/20/2004)
  Khartoum denies differences with the African Union   (8/16/2004)
  Darfur rebellions ask for American, British military intervention, Sudan denies bombarding Darfur by helicopters   (8/12/2004)

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