Date:07/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/07/stories/2005070700951500.htm

International

Sudan, Darfur rebel groups sign pact on war-ravaged region

Document falls short of the comprehensive peace agreement originally hoped

ABUJA (NIGERIA): Sudan's Government and two Darfur rebel groups ended their latest round of peace talks on Tuesday without a comprehensive peace deal to end the deadly two-year conflict that has left tens of thousands dead in Sudan's western region.

Representatives from the Government, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement all signed a three-page ``declaration of principles'' aimed at helping bring peace to Darfur as mediators announced the end of the fifth round of peace talks among warring parties.

War-induced hunger and disease have killed more than 180,000 persons and driven more than two million from their homes in Darfur's conflict, according to U.N. estimates.

Negotiators at the talks venue in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, agreed to broad, generalized commitments, including respecting the unity of Sudan, upholding democracy and ``justice and equality for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion and gender.''

The document also proposed ``an effective devolution of powers'' to regional authorities and that Darfur's people should be ensured of a role in all levels of government.

The parties would agree on how best to share power and wealth in Darfur at a later date, according to the document. Mediators said the talks were scheduled to begin again on Aug. 24, but did not say where.

Insurgent and government representatives have signed numerous cease-fire and other pacts during past rounds of peace talks, but none has yet ended the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

The preamble of the latest accord reiterated the parties' commitment to stop fighting and allow aid agencies access to all refugees.

The document fell short of the comprehensive peace agreement originally hoped for when the latest round of peace talks began last month, but peace brokers were sanguine nonetheless.

A step forward

``By adopting the Declaration of Principles, you have demonstrated your own determination that you will not let down the people of Darfur ... and you will not let down our friends in the international community,'' Salim Ahmed Salim, the African Union's special envoy for Darfur told negotiators.

The 53-nation African Union is hosting the peace talks, now in their fifth round.

``The signing of this document is a step forwards. Nonetheless it isn't worth its ink unless we abide by it,'' Ahmed Tugod, the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement delegation said at the closing session. — AP