Factions' participation key to ensuring peace in Sudan

Riyadh: Reacting to Tuesday night's signing of a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict in Darfur, several Sudanese expatriate leaders and prominent academics have urged other armed groups to join the ongoing peace talks in Doha.

Commenting on the Doha deal, Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb Al Mahi, a political analyst, said that ensuring participation of other factions and groups is key to reaching an inclusive final peace settlement.

He also underlined the role of neighbouring countries while brokering a lasting peace deal in Darfur. "It is impossible to achieve peace in Darfur without taking into consideration the role of neighbours, such as Chad, Central Africa and Libya," he said.

Speaking to Gulf News, key Sudanese figures in Riyadh expressed hope that the framework agreement would pave the way for resumption of negotiations aimed at reaching a broader and more permanent agreement to restore peace and stability in the region.

"The timing of the peace deal was significant as it coincides with a major change in the position of the regional and international forces with regard to the Darfur issue, with the position of France specifically worth mentioning," Prof Izzuddin Omar Mousa, a noted Sudanese academic and political activist, said.

France recently issued an official statement asking all factions in Darfur to lend a helping hand to ensure the success of the crucial peace talks.

Mousa, a winner of the King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies, said the next phase would be the toughest one. "This is only a framework for marathon talks to work out modalities for final peace settlement between Sudan and Darfur's main rebel group."

‘Alleviating suffering'

The main problem of Darfur is that it cannot be solved simply with signing of a bilateral peace agreement. No major faction in Darfur enjoys overwhelming support in Darfur and there are dozens of factions that have coalesced into two groups and backed by foreign forces.

They have refused to engage the government in peace talks.

"This agreement, no doubt, would contribute substantially in alleviating the suffering of the people of Darfur as well as in improving the humanitarian situation there besides ensuring peace, stability and unity of Sudan as a whole," said Dr Omar Al Shaikh Al Asam, a university professor.

According to Abdul Munem Abdul Aal, chairman of the Preparatory Council of Sudanese Community in Riyadh, the important thing is to end the hostility and bloodshed and suffering of people in Darfur. "For this, all the factions should join the ongoing peace initiative, taking advantage of the changed scenario at the regional and international levels."