Inter- Sudanese peace negotiations are standstill; African federation intends to deploy observers in Darfour
The commissioner for peace and security in the African federation, Saeed Jenit, said that the federation will deploy next week military observers in Darfour area to the west of Sudan in order to monitor the cease fire which has become valid as from last Sunday between Khartoum government and the rebels.
In a press conference in the capital Addis Ababa, Jenit explained that Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Namibia agreed to dispatch military forces who will be deployed as observers in Darfour as soon as possible.
He indicated that the observers will define the side which violate the cease- fire after the US Department Of State indicated unconfirmed reports on attacks carried out by government- backed militias. He added that the African federation will also discuss sending forces to Darfour if violence escalates.
However, the Sudanese government had refused the American accusations of violation of the cease fire in Darfour. The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael considered that the American allegations are a " hasty attempt to condemn Sudan by using misleading information." A spokesman for the US Department Of State said yesterday that the US proposed to give support in the field of " transport and supplies that he did not define to help the observers of the African federation to come in and out of the area."
Two groups started rebellion in Darfour in February 2003 and accused Khartoum of neglecting the area and arming nomad Arab militias that burn and confiscate properties of the African villages.
The Human rights watch said yesterday that the text of the truce agreement which lasts for 45 days is vague and does not force the government to dismantle militias from its weapons.
On the other hand, hopes were demolished to finalizing a nearby Sudanese peace agreement after the spokesman for the southern rebels Yasser Araman announced yesterday that peace negotiations with the Sudanese government in Nivasha, Kenya are standstill because of Khartoum cling to its position to implement the Islamic Sharia on Christians and non- Muslims in the capital.
Araman's statements come after the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had announced that the peace agreement between Khartoum and the people's movement will be signed within two days or the coming days after eliminating the obstacle of the law to be applied on the capital.
However, the most important agreement between the two sides is the one signed in 2004 when the two sides concluded a political agreement which states Southern Sudan to get its right to self determination following a 6- year transitional period.