Sudan rebels join talks on Darfur crisis

Pushed to end what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, envoys of Sudan’s government gathered in Nigeria today for talks with rebel leaders in Sudan’s bloodied western Darfur region.

Majzoub al-Khalifa Ahmad, a Cabinet minister and government delegate to failed Darfur peace talks in July, led Sudan’s government delegation to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for the one-day talks.

Two rebel groups - the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement - sent high-level delegations to the talks.

Eighteen months of conflict in Darfur have killed tens of thousands and driven 1.2 million others from their homes.

Tensions between nomadic Arab tribes and non-Arab African villagers exploded in February 2003 when the two Darfur rebel groups took up arms over what they regard as unjust treatment by the government in their struggle with Arab countrymen.

The United Nations, the United States and others accuse Sudan’s government of backing pro-government Janjaweed militia in a violent ethnic-cleansing campaign of killing, rape and razing communities.

In a goodwill gesture on the eve of peace talks in Nigeria, Sudan’s government said yesterday it would cut the number of official paramilitary forces operating in Darfur by 30%.

UN spokesperson Radhia Achouri welcomed the move, saying the paramilitary Popular Defence Forces have been blamed for committing various acts of violence against African tribespeople in west Sudan’s three Darfur states.