afrol News, 6 September - A fresh peace talks involving officials of Sudanese government and Darfur rebels have been scheduled to take place in Libya on 27 October, a joint statement by Sudan and the UN confirmed.

Both sides have agreed to hold peace talks, although some Darfur rebel leaders prefer to boycott the event.

The talks came after a discussion between the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and President Omar al-Bashir in the capital Khartoum.

"The government of Sudan pledges to contribute positively to secure the environment for the negotiations, fulfilling its commitment to a full cessation of hostilities in Darfur and agreed upon ceasefire," the statement read, expressing hope that all parties will co-operate fully with UN and African Union mediators so that the Libya talks become successful.

The previous peace talks have failed to yield the expected results, with most rebel groups boycotting or failing to agree with peace packages.

Sudan signed a peace accord with the rebel in 2006. However, despite demonstrating its readiness to support the accord, only one rebel group signed the deal.

But the UN chief has used his Sudan tour to ask all the rebel groups to be committed to the talks. He revealed that plans to send a 26,000-strong UN-AU to Darfur in 2008 were on good track. The continental body has close to 6,000 peacekeepers in Darfur.

Since the start of the Darfur crisis some years back, an estimated 200,000 people died while some two millions have become victims of displacement. Sudanese government has been accused of aiding the Arab militias [Janjaweed] to kill black Africans in Darfur region.

Mr K-Moon was cheered by thousands of refugees in Darfur’s Al-Salaam camps yesterday. He said a visit to the camps had shocked and humbled him.

“I was shocked at the poverty and hardship all these tens of thousands of people were undergoing," the UN Scribe said.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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