Darfur Peace Deal?

It appears that the rebel groups have found the new peace deal acceptable. The plan would call for the rebel groups to be integrated into Sudanese security forces.

The negotiator said the draft called for a minimum of 4,000 rebels to be integrated into Sudan's armed forces and another 1,000 in the police force. In addition, 3,000 rebels would be given training and education to prepare them for civilian life.

The peace accord is not yet final, but it's a step towards peace in a volatile conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced and scarred more than 2 million people.

African Union mediators have often expressed frustration at the seeming unwillingness of either side to compromise or adhere to a cease-fire declared in April 2004.

African Union spokesman Nouredine Mezni said African mediators had made "titanic efforts" to produce the draft proposal and any changes would have to be negotiated by other parties.

The U.S. and British officials appeared to step into that breach. They were sent to Abuja, the Nigerian capital where the talks are taking place, after thousands of Americans including several legislators protested over the weekend to demand an end to the slaughter in Darfur.

Another reminder that it takes people who refuse to be silenced to create any real movement in this country. Lets hope that the peace accord will stick and the violence will end.

posted by Sarai @ 2:48 PM 0 comments