Peace agreement on Darfur could be signed in mid-July: UN

A UN spokesman said on Wednesday that a peace agreement is expected to be signed between the government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement when the parties meet in Doha, capital of Qatar, on July 15.

Farhan Haq, the UN associate spokesman, made the statement when quoting the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), saying that an adviser to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir made the announcement on Tuesday in the capital Khartoum after meeting with the Joint UN/AU chief mediator for Darfur, Djibril Bassole.

Speaking to reporters after that meeting, Bassole welcomed the parties' decision to involve representatives of internally displaced persons, refugees and civil society in the talks. Darfur civil society groups are expected to meet on July 12 at a consultative forum in Doha.

Bassole also said that he urged the government to take all possible measures to restore confidence and reduce tensions in Darfur, including seeking an end to all armed hostilities with all armed groups.

Qatar is the mediator in the talks between the Sudanese government and the region's rebel groups. The Middle East country, together with Bassole, extended invitations to the Sudanese government and Darfur's two main groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Liberation and Justice Movement ( LJM), in May.

The peace talks had been suspended in April due to the general elections in Sudan. Last month, Khartoum said it would send a delegation to the Qatari capital on May 15 to resume talks with the rebel groups. On May 2, JEM announced that it froze participation in the Qatari-brokered after accusing the Sudanese army of attacking its positions.

Source: Xinhua