DARFUR: TALKS PROCEED IN NIGERIA, CLASHES CONTINUE IN REGION

While a second day of peace talks opened today in Abuja, Nigeria, in an atmosphere of cautious optimism between the government and rebels for a solution to the crisis in the western Darfur region, contrasting reports arrive from the field. According to some sources, three rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) " one of the armed factions active in Darfur " were detained and then released by government forces while seeking refuge in El-Fasher at a post of African Union (AU) observers million, present in Sudan with some 2,700 soldiers.

JEM leader Ibrhaim Khalil stated that the Sudanese soldiers stormed the AU mission structure. While according to AU officers, the regular forces did not target the base. The resumption of negotiations after a six months interruption restored hopes for an end to the internal conflict that has so far resulted in over a million and a half displaced and an elevated though unspecified number of victims (from 180,000 to 300,000 according to international sources). After a first face-to face, yesterday the government and rebel delegations met separately with mediators and today should return to meet directly. Today’s talks, for the first time, are participated by the leaders of the two rebel groups of Darfur (aside from the JEM, also the Sudan Liberation Army-Movement " SLA-M). oltre al Jem, è attivo l’Esercito di liberazione del Sudan, Sla-m).

Yesterday AU Commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare announced the expansion of the mission force of 6,171 men by September, to include military observers and peacekeepers as well as a civilian police force of 1,500 men. Last Thursday the NATO confirmed its commitment to a logistic collaboration, guaranteeing the air transport of the African troops in Darfur, probably in July. In regard, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed satisfaction, stating " through his spokesperson " that the pledges of logistic assistance “would help to ensure the timely expansion of the African Union Mission in Sudan”. The only ’good news’ in nearly two years in the region arrived from Nyala, capital of South Darfur: a first group of 200 displaced left the large camp of Kalma, hosting over 110,000 civilians that fled the violence, to return to their villages in West Darfur. With the assistance of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) and other humanitarian organisations, the displaced were brought back home. The project foresees the return of some 30,000 people that the government wants to return to their areas of origin. [BO]


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