Optimism in Tripoli summit over Darfur

The leaders of seven African states held a close door meeting on late Monday evening in Tripoli, Libya, concerning the crisis in Darfur west. The summit lasts for two days and is expected to lead to the resumption of the stumbled peace talks being held in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael expressed great hope that the summit will result in decisions that would, at least, lead to the resumption of peace talks. He expected this to be made by the fall of June.

The summit is attended by leaders of Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, Chad, Eritrea and Gabon and the participation of the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Mousa, and the representatives for the African Union whose forces are monitoring a fragile ceasefire in Darfur declared in April 2004.

The meeting of the African leaders in Tripoli came after the issuance of the UN resolution 1593 which calls for putting on trial those Sudanese involved in war crimes in Darfur in front of the International Criminal Court. The summit is expected to discuss the said UN resolution.

The meeting also comes several days after the meeting between the Libyan Leader Muammar al-Qathafi and representatives for the rebel movements and the people's administration in Darfur who signed in his presence The Tripoli Declaration which calls for ceasefire in implementation of the agreements signed between the rebels and the Sudanese government.

In this regard, the summit will also discuss a proposal for enhancing the African Union forces which monitor the ceasefire in Darfur.