KHARTOUM, Nov 18: An agreement to hold renewed talks among all parties to Darfur's conflict brings a historic opportunity to end fighting which has killed 200,000, the U.N. humanitarian chief said on Saturday.
A meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa earlier in the week agreed that a May peace signed by only one of three rebel factions was inadequate and a new process should be activated under joint leadership of the U.N. and African Union.
“The DPA (Darfur Peace Agreement) is not sufficiently inclusive ... (and) this has led to insecurity, worsened the humanitarian situation and limited humanitarian access,” the final communique of the meeting said. U.N. humanitarian coordinator Jan Egeland said the Addis agreement was a turning point that should be seized to negotiate an inclusive peace respected by Darfuris, many of whom feel the May deal was inadequate.
“We have now a historic moment of opportunity as in Addis Ababa ... we saw an agreement come out for a renewed political effort to settle this man-made disaster,” he told reporters in Khartoum.
The Sudan government and the rebel group which signed the May deal have until now refused any changes or additions to the accord. Egeland said there was agreement in Addis on an effective force to protect civilians.—Reuters
