Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is expected to sign a ceasefire deal in Doha with a key rebel group, hopefully ending the conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region on Tuesday.
Al-Bashir, who arrived in the Qatari capital on Monday night, said the deal between his government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) marked “the beginning of the end of the war in Darfur”.
Chadian President Idriss Deby and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hammad bin Khalifa, will be present at the signing ceremony, the regional daily al-Sharq al-Awsat reported.
The three leaders are holding a summit ahead of the signing, while a framework agreement covering the deal was signed Saturday.
Al-Bashir said he hoped the ceasefire with JEM would pave the way for a “comprehensive” peace to end the seven-year conflict.
The United Nations estimates that fighting in Darfur has left 300Â 000 dead and 2,7- million displaced. The Sudanese government says only 10Â 000 people have died in the conflict.
A memorandum submitted by the mediating parties proposes a timetable for negotiations after the framework agreement is signed, and a complete ceasefire.
It also affirms the continuation of the federal system of government in Sudan, while stressing the government’s need to protect people in Darfur from intimidation and violence, and to raise their standard of living.
The memorandum calls for proportional representation in democratic institutions, courts, the civil service, and security forces for Darfur.
Al-Bashir is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague in March 2009 for his alleged involvement in atrocities in Darfur.
Previous ceasefire agreements have tended to lapse quickly, but analysts feel there is more hope this time around.
Fighting has died off in Darfur, leaving only isolated clashes and general insecurity.
Sudan and its neighbour Chad, which supported rebel groups in Darfur — also recently signed an agreement that should see relations improve — something analysts say is key to long-term stability in the restive province.
Presidential and legislative elections, due in April, are forcing Khartoum to worry about relations with the autonomous Southern Sudan, with which it fought a long civil war.
International pressure is also being applied, particularly through the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for al-Bashir on charges relating to Darfur.
These factors are believed to working in favour of peace in Darfur by forcing Khartoum to talk more seriously with the rebels.
However, there remain other rebel groups in Darfur that are not keen on signing up to peace, and this could yet throw a spanner in the works. — Sapa-DPA