October 29, 2007

Darfur Peace Talks Postponed Amid Boycott By Key Rebel Groups

Boycotting rebel groups have stalled Darfur peace talks that began this weekend in Libya, forcing mediators to recast the meeting as a "consultation" among cooperating groups in preparation for the real negotiations, which have been postponed for a later date that has yet to be determined.

According to the London Guardian, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi noted at the beginning of the talks on Saturday that two key rebel leaders, Abdul Wahid al-Nur of the Sudan Liberation Army and Khalil Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement, were not in attendance. "These are major movements," he said, "and without them we cannot achieve peace."

Denying that the peace process had been "interrupted," envoys from the United Nations and African Union, which are spearheading the efforts, announced that some mediators would remain in Libya for the next few weeks, while others would travel to Sudan to try and bring more rebel leaders on board.

"The process leading to negotiations has begun," said AU envoy Salim Ahmed Salim. "Only after that period... of approximately three weeks, will we go into substantial negotiations," U.N. chief mediator Jan Eliasson told AP. Chinese envoy Liu Guijin also expressed confidence that the talks would resume. "The adjournment is not a sign of failure," he said. "It's a preparation of other steps."

Sudanese representative Nafie Ali Nafie was less forgiving of the rebel leaders, and suggested that postponing the negotiations sent the wrong message to those who wished to disrupt the peace process. Leaders from JEM and SLA -- the two main rebel groups absent from the talks -- claimed that the Sudanese army had carried out attacks on the Chad-Sudan border in violation of a cease-fire agreement as the talks were being held over the weekend, Reuters reports. The location of the talks in Libya also angered some rebel groups, who feel Gadhafi is too cozy with Khartoum.

The Economist on Saturday previewed the peace talks and analyzed what's at stake. Yesterday, the New York Times reported on the "mixed message" rebel groups in attendance sent during that day's session in Libya. And the Washington Post this morning ran a story parsing President Bush's approach to the conflict, claiming that he "expresses passion for" helping to end the genocide in Darfur, but his "policies have been inconsistent."

Posted at 10:45 AM
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