Two rebel groups from Sudan’s Darfur region insisted that the Khartoum government withdraw its armed forces and allied militia from the troubled western region before there could be negotiations on ending the devastating conflict there. The military withdrawal was one of five conditions laid down by the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM) in Addis Ababa at the start of a raucous meeting with Sudanese government officials hosted by the African Union (AU). “Removal of government troops and Janjawid militia from Darfur, including those who are integrated into the police or other government offices” was top of a list read out by SLM official Adam Ali Shogan. The rebels also insisted Khartoum step up efforts to counter Darfur’s humanitarian crisis, where a major famine is looming, recommit itself to an April 8 ceasefire — which both sides are accused of violating –, investigate war crimes such as “ethnic cleansing” and prosecute perpetrators, and release prisoners of war. Full Story
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