Darfur peace mediators to settle difference inside the rebel groups

International mediators led by the organization of the African Union seek to settle differences between the rebel groups in Darfur, in the west of Sudan. Differences they fear to undermine the peace efforts and obstruct reaching an agreement between the government of Khartoum and the rebels.

The mediation efforts imply convincing the Sudan Liberation Army to appoint one spokesman for it to negotiate with the governmental side, justifying that by saying that the mediators and the African Union are not authorized to interfere in the internal affairs of the movements, according to a spokesman for the African Union organization.

The spokesman added that differences between members of the movement in Darfur is obstructing the realization of an agreement in Abuja meetings that started on June 10th. Worthy mentioning that four former rounds of talks failed in convincing the rebels and the government to reach a final statement formula for a comprehensive peace agreement between Darfur rebels and Khartoum.

Differences between members of the Sudan Liberation Army, the largest rebel movement in Darfir, erupted because of the hatred between the chairman of the movement Muhammad al-Nour and its secretary general Meini Menawi. After al-Nour who presides over the delegation of the movement had left Abuja after the beginning of the talks, supporters of Menawi announced that al-Nour is no longer a representative for the movement and that they will not recognize any agreement he will conclude with the government.

The African officials tried to convince the two sides of the rebels to reach a reconciliation and accept al-Nour signing of the agreement and the rebels of the movement to honor his decisions.

Since 2003, the Sudan's Liberation Army has been fighting the government of Sudan under allegations that it pursues a policy of margining and division between the Arabs living in Darfur and the citizens of Darfur of African descents.

The civil war between Janjawid militias, which are accused of Sudanese government support, and the two main rebel movements in Darfur, resulted in killing scores of thousands of persons and displacement of more than 2 million refugees to sheltering camps in Sudan and Chad which adjoins Darfur.