Mediators in peace talks on Sudan's Darfur region on Sunday presented the warring parties with a detailed cease-fire proposal designed to work better than an existing, often violated agreement.
The African Union (AU), which has 7,000 peacekeepers in Darfur and is mediating peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja, said demilitarisation of humanitarian supply routes and of displaced persons' camps were key elements of the plan.
"Our proposals are fair, workable and in compliance with the previous commitments entered into by the parties," the AU's chief mediator Salim Ahmed Salim told the parties, according to an AU statement.
"If any party refuses to sign the enhanced humanitarian cease-fire agreement, we will have no option but to conclude that it is not interested in peace and the wellbeing of the people of Darfur," Salim said.
The AU and the United Nations are increasing pressure on the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels to speed up peace talks. On Friday, the AU extended its mission in Darfur until September 30 and set a deadline of end-April for the peace talks to conclude. Sunday's AU statement was entitled: "AU tells the Sudanese parties in Abuja: Time is up." Two Darfur rebel groups took up arms in early 2003 over what they described as discrimination and neglect.
The Sudanese government is accused by US and UN officials of responding to the rebellion by arming Janjaweed, militiamen who killed, raped, pillaged and drove 2 million people into squalid camps. Khartoum denies that it controls the Janjaweed.
A cease-fire was signed in April 2004 but the AU says all sides have continued fighting. In recent months security has deteriorated to the point that many parts of Darfur are off-limits for aid workers.
BUFFER ZONES
"Today, the humanitarian agencies in Darfur are reaching fewer people than they did when that cease-fire agreement was signed. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic," said Sam Ibok, head of the AU mediation team in Abuja. The proposed new cease-fire agreement calls for AU peacekeepers and civilian police to secure aid supply routes and displaced persons' camps.
It also says the government and the rebel groups should withdraw their forces to clearly identified areas, with buffer zones between them. Ibok said on Saturday that the response from the parties to preliminary soundings on the AU's proposed solutions had not been encouraging. But he expressed hope that the full, detailed proposals would meet with a more positive response.
The Abuja talks have been blighted by constant infighting among the rebels, playing into the government's hands.
Last month, a panel of experts recommended to the UN Security Council that sanctions be imposed on individuals obstructing the peace process, and the AU reminded the parties of that threat in its statement on Sunday. An AU spokesman said two key rebel leaders had arrived in Abuja over the weekend, in a sign that the rebel groups understood the negotiations had reached a critical point. The leaders are Minni Arcua Minnawi, leader of one of the factions of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Khalil Ibrahim, head of the smaller Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Since the seventh round of talks started more than three months ago, Minni has spent more time consolidating his position on the ground in Darfur and neighbouring Chad than at the talks, while Khalil had not previously attended the round at all.
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