More Sudan rebels commit but not sign peace agreement
Sudan, Politics, 6/10/2006

IRIN news reported yesterday that "Factions from two Sudanese rebel groups that had refused to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement signed a declaration of commitment to the pact on Thursday, effectively pledging to abide by its terms."

It added "Abdelwahid Mohamed al-Nur's faction of the SLM/A and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim once again refused to accept the deal because it did not fulfil their key political and security demands."

The report added : Thirty representatives, including commanders and politicians from the splinter wings of the SLM/A and JEM, signed the declaration at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. "With this declaration, we are committing ourselves to the agreement in the same way as the other signatories and are hoping that it allows peace in Darfur," said Abdurahman Musa Abbakar of the SLM/A. The leader of JEM's dissident group, Adam Abdurahman Aburisha, said the signing was a "historic moment" for Sudan. "I want to invite all people to adopt this peace agreement because this agreement belongs to all Sudanese and their neighbours," he said. "We will do everything possible to ensure that this agreement will be implemented. We are committed to it. We call on the people who are still fighting to allow the Darfurians to step out of war and to taste the fruit of peace."

US Department Of State spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday "I understand that just recently some members of the Sudan Liberation Movement -- this is Abdulwahid's group -- have decided to sign a declaration of commitment to the Darfur peace agreement. So you have some individuals from that group. You have also some individuals from the Justice and Equality Movement who have decided to sign the agreement. They have signed this declaration. We think that this is a wise and important move by these individuals. We hope that others will follow as well. We already have Mini Manawi from the Sudan Liberation Movement has already signed his group up to the Darfur peace agreement."

He added "So we think that this is -- we welcome it. We think this is important. We encourage the other remaining members of those groups to sign up. The people that signed up to this recently, they're important negotiators as well as field commanders from these groups, so these are significant individuals from these groups. And that we think that this is an important step in getting all the groups to come together to resolve the situation in Darfur and we're going to do everything that we can to help implement this agreement along with the AU and other members of the international community."

McCormack was asked that it was strange that they signed signed a "commitment to the peace accord" but did sign the peace accord.

McCormack said "My understanding is what the notes that I have there: "The signatories expressed their support for the peace agreement and their determination to be bound by all of its provisions." So that sounds like a pretty strong commitment."

He added "I don't know the technicalities of whether or not signature on that agreement flows, but I think, in effect, you do have these people signing up to abide by all of its provisions."

Previous Stories:
  Sudan does not welcome UN troops   (6/7/2006)
  UN says it is sending mission to Sudan   (6/3/2006)
  Bashir thanks Qathafi on role in Darfur peace agreement   (5/29/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search