Sudan: AU says four Darfur faction leaders back peace agreement

Addis Ababa_(dpa) _ The African Union said Friday it had received a signed "Declaration of Commitment" to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) from four faction leaders in the two rebel movements who have not signed the agreement.

The leaders pledged, on behalf of their supporters, to participate fully in the implementation of the agreement by explaining its provisions faithfully to their followers, the AU said.

The AU said these leaders were either previously accredited "prominent" delegates to the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur in Abuja, or known to it as political leaders or military commanders in Darfur.

They had "now committed themselves and their followers to the DPA, thereby enhancing the prospects for lasting peace in Darfur," the AU said.

The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Said Djinnit, said the leaders had, on delivering the declaration late Thursday, expressed disappointment at the "regrettable failure" of Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur of the SLM/A and Khalil Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to sign the agreement on May 5 in Abuja.

Djinnit praised their support and commitment to peace in Darfur. He said punitive measures would be taken against all those who obstructed the implementation of the agreement.

The leaders were named as Abdel Rahman Musa Abbaker (chief negotiator for the SLM/A Abdul Wahid), Ibrahim Madibo (chief negotiator for the SLM/A Abdul Wahid for power-sharing), Ustaz Abdel Raheem Adam Abdel Raheem Abu Risha (general secretary for JEM, Southern Darfur) and Commander Adam Saleh Abbaker (representative of the military commanders of SLM/A Abdul Wahid). dpa gh rpm