Daily Darfur: Rebels Withdraw, Meet the Gov't in Doha

Published May 29, 2009 @ 04:24AM PT

Heavy bombardment by the Sudanese military forced the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to withdraw from two settlements in North Darfur:

"JEM's announcement marked a reversal in the rebel force's recent push into the remote region, an advance that coincided with a deterioration of relations between the governments of Sudan and Chad, which Khartoum says supports JEM.

The development also came as faltering negotiations between Sudan's government and JEM resumed in Qatar. The discussions have so far not evolved into full peace talks."

JEM also announced its intent to release 60 government troops, currently being held prisoner, as a "sign of goodwill" ahead of the talks in Qatar. The current round of talks, which begin today, aims to secure a three- to six-month ceasefire agreement between the rebels and the government. (If history is destined to repeat itself, as it has so often in Sudan, I'm not holding out much hope until there's an effective mechanism to actually monitor and enforce such an agreement.)

International envoys have also converged on Doha for the meeting, including Scott Gration and his Chinese counterpart.

Quickies

Recent clashes in the tense South Kordofan province, which borders Darfur, have killed 244 people.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir traveled to Libya today for the summit of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (Cen-Sad).

[Photo from AFP: File photo shows an African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) peacekeeper looking out over North Darfur.]

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Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.