Sudan and the largest rebel group in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement, signed a preliminary deal today. As the New York Times notes, the agreement commits the parties only to continue peace talks in Doha, Qatar, with the goal of developing a final status agreement.
Because the current preliminary agreement requires so little, Voice of America is skeptical. Javno adds that other rebel groups in Darfur are dissatisfied. Moreover, Sudan has seen plenty of peace treaties before, and little actual peace.
History certainly demands skepticism. However, the treaty is a key critical step. If the parties stay at the negotiating table, and the international community remains engaged, it’s possible one day we’ll see this as a critical breakthrough for Darfur.
One day, too, someone will write a very interesting book about the behind-the-scenes impact of the International Criminal Court’s criminal proceedings against Sudanese President al-Bashir on the Doha negotiations. The deal may be an attempt by the government to forestall a rumored arrest warrant. However, the agreement will damage those who argue the proceedings against al-Bashir complicate the peace process; if anything, the proceedings helped spur today’s accord. So while the accord isn’t a clear win for the people of Darfur, it’s probably a victory for the ICC.
