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UNAMID troops on patrol in North Darfur. [PHOTO:
UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran]
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Doha/Khartoum: The Government of Sudan and one of the main rebel factions
in Darfur have signed a ceasefire agreement to move the peace process forward,
the United Nations-African Union mediator announced on Monday.
“This is a major breakthrough in the road towards a
comprehensive and lasting peace accord in Darfur,” said Aichatou Mindaoudou,
who is also the Acting Joint Special Representative in the UN-AU peacekeeping
mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The Government, represented by State Minister and Head of
the Darfur Follow-up Office, Amin Hassan Omer, signed the ceasefire with Arko
Sulaiman Dahiya, Vice Chairman and Head of Delegation from the Justice and
Equality Movement (JEM), on 10 February in Doha, Qatar.
The agreement now lays the groundwork to start negotiations
on other substantive issues, such as power and wealth-sharing and return of
internally displaced persons and refugees.
The negotiations for the ceasefire had begun last month in
Qatar under the parameters set in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).
The DDPD forms the basis for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive peace
agreement to end the fighting that began in Darfur ten years ago, pitting
government forces and allied militiamen against rebel groups.
JEM is the second rebel group to commit to the DDPD, after
the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed it last year.
Following the signing, Ms. Mindaoudou congratulated both
parties and said she hoped that the agreement would attract the non-signatory
movements to join in the peace process.
“The road to peace is challenging and needs a great deal of
resolve, perseverance and concessions from both sides,” said Ms. Mindaoudou,
reiterating her commitment to continue to work with the parties to the conflict
towards achieving a comprehensive peace in Darfur.