Doha “Peace Talks” Begin, But Without Real Peace Solution Possible

February 11, 2009

Peace talks between the government of Sudan and the rebel faction, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), is set to begin in Doha, Qatar as of February 9th. The meeting is an effort to find a peaceful solution to end the conflict in Darfur, but key rebel groups, such as the Sudanese Liberation Association (SLA) will not attend the peace talks.

Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is skeptical that the Doha peace talks will find a true, sustainable peace solution for Darfur. Instead, Doha seems like a meager repeat of the May 2006 peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria: not all the rebel groups were present at these peace talks, and thus, the genocide in Darfur continued as a result.

Damanga is further skeptical that the Doha Peace Negotiations are merely a joint effort between the Arab League and African Leaders to stall the International Criminal Court from acting upon President Omar Al-Bashir’s indictment and arresting him for the atrocities of Darfur. However, real peace will never be established in Darfur if President Bashir escapes his war crimes trial because justice will not be established; peace without justice is impossible.

The JEM’s “one-on-one” negotiations with the Sudanese government undermine the ICC’s efforts and the other peace efforts of the international community. By excluding the other rebel factions, the JEM is dividing and weakening the Darfur community, and the possibility for unifying peace to be established in the area. Damanga urges the international community and the Darfur rebel factions, including the JEM, to abandon the fake peace negotiations in Qatar and instead support the ICC so that real justice will be established in Darfur.