US special envoy urges Darfur parties to seize the opportunity in Doha

US President Barack Obama’s special envoy for Sudan, ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, yesterday expressed disappointment at the notable absence of some of the important movements in Sudan at the ongoing peace talks in Doha.

Ambassador Lyman arrived in Doha to urge the Sudanese government and Darfurian armed movements to use the remaining weeks of the Doha talks to reach a political agreement, commit to an immediate ceasefire, and take steps to improve security and humanitarian conditions in Darfur.

“The important movements (in Darfur) are not here; Mini Minawi is not represented here, Abdul Wahid’s movement is not here. And that I think is unfortunate… we’ve encouraged the other movements to come to Doha and participate, but so far those two groups in particular have not come,” ambassador Lyman said during a press roundtable.

“It would have been extremely valuable if they were here. Because when negotiating an agreement as important as this, clearly the leader of the movement(s) should be involved,” he added.

But the fact that there was serious negotiations going on between the Sudanese government and two rebel movements of Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), was “encouraging”, he said.

“I am very encouraged by the fact that you have active discussion going on between the three parties … and with the seriousness the three parties have engaged,” ambassador Lyman said, who will be heading to Southern Kordofan, Sudan, from Doha to witness the gubernatorial and legislative elections starting today.

“From there, I will be going to Darfur on Wednesday, accompanied by ambassador Smith (senior US adviser on Darfur, Dane Smith),” he added.

According to him, the US is making an intensive human investment in the process because “we think it holds real promise”.

“Darfur has a special resonance in the US, because people have been very concerned since the genocide in Rwanda. And when the Darfur crisis broke out in 2003 people thought this was a test of the international community. Congress then enacted a number of sanctions against Sudan related to Darfur,” he said.

“Now we feel it’s important to work towards normalisation relations with the government of Sudan because with the secession of South, a stable north and a stable south are both important. So we want to work to lift the sanctions, where Sudan has access to the international financial community etc. To do that, not only we have to see a peace agreement we need to see peace in Darfur,” he added.

According to him, the situation in Darfur remains “troubling” with more people displaced since last year.

“In the last year, there has been more fighting; clashes in Darfur between the JEM and the Sudanese government and that has led to bombing by the government leading to 70,000 to 80,000 more displaced people,” the diplomat said.

“This (warring) complicates the humanitarian situation and we are very disturbed by the events,” he added.

Photocaption: HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud holding talks with US Special Envoy to Sudan, Princeton Lyman, in Doha yesterday. They discussed efforts made by Qatar to establish peace in Darfur