ABUJA- THE peace meeting on the Darfur crisis in Abuja yesterday continued with the parties to the conflict agreeing to deliberate on four issues. The four-point agenda, enumerated by President Olusegun Obasanjo, include political, security, economic and social issues. The president, however, observed there would be danger for members of the international community to express dissatisfaction with the political solution that was about to be reached.
Speaking with newsmen at the ECOWAS Secretariat venue of the meeting, President Obasanjo said the development has indicated that positive results could emanate from the matter, adding that “emotion-laden statements” were received from all parties to the crisis.
The parties also agreed to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the country especially in the Darfur region where an estimated 50,000 people are believed to have died while about one million people have been displaced.
Said he: “From all indications, we have taken the first step in the right direction in this very important talks. Sparing the time on the Darfur crisis, I believe that we have made progress within the last 24 hours. We have had a wonderful opening and statements from parties concerned. Some were emotion laden, which is understandable. Statements have been frank and the Sudanese government has requested for the opportunity to go over the draft agenda which was unanimously adopted this morning (Tuesday) with minor adjustments.”
He said the meeting was worth the effort if only to stave off the imminent danger facing the country arising from threats by the United Nations Security Council and the African Union. Obasanjo said the African Union should be able to resolve the crisis.
“I believe that one thing that would be a real disaster is for the international community to collectively feel absolutely dissatisfied with the events and the handling of events by the government of Sudan, to the extent that they have to unleash something more than what we are trying to contain. That would be a great disaster to Sudan, the government, the people and indeed, for Africa. I believe that we can manage it and we will manage it,” Obasanjo stated.
Responding to claims by the government of Sudan that it has deployed 40,000 troops and 10,000 policemen to Darfur region, Obasanjo said the claim amounted to playing to the gallery.
