Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- A solemn promise “to resume as soon as possible talks in Abuja under the aegis of the African Union without pre-conditions” was made by the representatives of the two armed Opposition movements in Darfur Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Army/Movement at the end of a week of talks in Rome organised by S. Egidio Community which sent a copy of a rebel statement on the matter to Fides. “We thank the Community of S. Egidio for its hospitality, its work of facilitation and the profound faith of these men and women committed to building peace. While we were in Rome we had frank talks with the African Union. We call on the international community to make every effort to maintain a favourable atmosphere for the resuming and continuation of the negotiations. We also ask for these talks to be supported with high level representatives and effective political and technical assistance. We support the international community’s request to reinforce the contingent of African Union and to extend its mandate to include protection of civilians.
Darfur is a vast partly desert region with a population of about 6 million. It has borders with Chad and Libya. An independent Sultanate until 1917, it was incorporated in Sudan at the time when the latter was controlled by a joint Anglo-Egyptian administration.
For years the scene of clashes between nomad herdsmen and sedentary farmers, in February 2003 the situation in Darfur exploded into a conflict in which between 30 and 50,000 people have died, 1.2 million are internally displaced and more than 200,000 have taken refuge in Chad.
Economic and social claims were at the basis of the revolt. The armed movements demand more government investment for development of the area.
The revolt is led by JEM and SLA/M which are fighting government troops the latter being backed by Arab Janjaweed militia responsible for atrocities against civilians.
JEM is said to have about 6 to 7,000 men and SLA/M has 16,000.
On April 8 2004 after much international pressure government of Khartoum and the two movements signed an agreement which included a cease-fire, access to the area for international humanitarian organisations and disarmament of militia groups including the notorious Janjaweed. Later in Abuja, Nigeria a treaty was signed under the aegis of the African Union to establish the future of the region. However talks stalled in December 2004. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2005 righe 39 parole 403)
