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Sudan: Minawi to Return to Khartoum Only After Al-Fashir Agreement Implemented | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Khartoum, Asharq Al-Awsat- Sudan’s Senior Presidential Assistant Mani Arkoi Minawi, who retreated to a town in northern Darfur three months ago, says that his return to Khartoum is contingent on the implementation of the 10-point Al-Masfufa [timetable] spelled out in the agreement he signed last Friday with Vice President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha in Al-Fashir, the capital of northern Darfur.

In exclusive statements to Asharq Al-Awsat, Minawi expressed hope that the government will commit itself to implementation of Al-Masfufa within the stipulated deadline of one month from the date of its signature.

Al-Masfufa is supposed to settle disputes between the two sides on implementation of the 2005 Abuja peace agreement, reached through African mediation under intensive American and international supervision. By virtue of that agreement, he assumed the post of senior presidential assistant. Minawi, the head of the Sudan Liberation Movement, called in his statements for implementation of the Al-Masfufa in full by the stipulated deadline as a condition for returning. He also called on the government to abide by what it signed so as to open the way for implementation of the Abuja accord. Al-Masfufa, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, spells out security arrangements involving merging Minawi’s forces in the Sudanese army. It also contains pledges on reconstruction in Darfur and guarantees on implementation of the Darfur peace accord within a maximum period of one month.

A joint military committee was formed to coordinate security activities and the cessation of hostilities between the two sides and remove all negative consequences resulting from these hostilities. The two sides agreed to work together to convince the movements that have not signed Abuja to join peace. They also agreed to exert efforts to secure roads, protect civilians, transport emergency aid to the displaced and affected, and ensure implementation of development projects in the provinces of Darfur through the Darfur Fund. This goes in particular for water, education, health and infrastructure projects, as outlined in Al-Masfufa.

Minawi considered the Al-Fashir agreement as a step for restoring confidence and demonstrating seriousness. He said that the coming stage will prove the extent of the government’s commitment to what was agreed upon. Replying to a question, he described what took place at Al-Fashir between the two sides as a last chance to implement the Abuja agreement. Al-Masfufa underscored the necessity of speeding up implementation of the constitutional aspects by referring the Abuja agreement to the Constitutional Commission and forming a team of experts in civil services under the supervision of the national commission for civil service. It also provides for ensuring support and bolstering for the transitional authority to enable it to carry out its aspired role.