Darfur rebels sign truce deal with Sudan
Darfur’s most powerful rebel group has initialled a truce with the Sudanese government, officials said today, marking a return to peace talks aimed at ending the Darfur conflict.
The truce between the rebel Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese government takes effect immediately, said Idriss Deby, Chad’s president, in a statement.
Justice and Equality Movement spokesman Ahmed Hussein said the deal initialled today was a framework agreement to guide future peace negotiations, including talks on a permanent ceasefire.
He said it would be formally signed in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday in the presence of Mr Deby and the leaders of Sudan and Qatar.
The rebel group has been the most significant obstacle in efforts to end the seven-year conflict in Darfur, in which 300,000 people have lost their lives to violence, disease and displacement.
The Justice and Equality Movement will take part in talks in Qatar which aim to reach a final agreement by March 15, Mr Deby’s statement said.
Mr Hussein said today’s deal was important to the Darfur peace process.
“It’s a significant step for peace in Darfur. It is a considerable achievement for both parties.”
Today’s agreement comes as Sudan and Chad have been working for months to improve relations soured by the spillover from the Darfur conflict, with each country accusing the other of supporting the other’s rebel groups.
Sudan has often accused Chad of supporting the Justice and Equality Movement, allowing the group to use eastern Chad as its rear base.
Earlier this month, Mr Deby visited Sudan for the first time in almost six years and discussed with Sudan’s president efforts to set up a joint force to patrol their common border.
The UN has said 2.7 million people were driven from their homes in Darfur in the fighting between ethnic African rebels and the government and Arab militias.
