Delegations of the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi have agreed on making Doha the venue for further consultations on conflict on the Darfur region, according to Qatari state media.

This comes after the Deputy Prime Minister and Qatari Mediator, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud and the Joint Special Representative/Joint Chief Mediator (JSR/JCM) and Head of the African Union-United Nations Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi met in Doha with a team from the two movements from 30 to 31 May.

According a statement published by the Qatar News Agency today, they discussed the procedural issues that will pave the way for the resumption of the peace process between the Sudanese government and the two movements to achieve peace in Darfur.

“The meetings were conducted in a positive, transparent and frank atmosphere, and it was agreed to conduct more consultation with the parties to reach an agreement on procedural issues as soon as possible,” reads the statement.

The joint chief mediator called upon the rebel movements to sign the AUHIP roadmap, and to accept the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the basic framework for peace in Darfur.

The delegations of the two movements expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciations to the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and to the government and people of Qatar for the tremendous efforts they have been exerting to achieve peace in Darfur and Sudan, state media reported.

Qatar's media further reports that the rebel delegations also renewed their confidence in the mediation and express readiness to cooperate to reach a durable and just peace in Darfur in the very near future.

UNAMID photo