Doha, 22 October 2012 - H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Council of Ministers Affairs, and H.E. Ms. Aichatou S. Mindaoudou, Acting AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, issued the following statement:

A delegation from the Government of Sudan led by H.E. Dr. Amin Hassan Omer, Minster of State in the Presidency and Head of the Darfur Follow-up Office, and a delegation from the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan led by Mr. Mohammad Bashar Ahmed, President of the Interim Military Council, met in Doha, from 17 – 22 October 2012, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Council of Ministers Affairs, and H.E. Aichatou S. Mindaoudou, Acting AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, in order to hold consultations on the Peace Process and discuss ways for the Movement to join the latter, on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Following intensive consultations, the two parties signed a declaration affirming their commitment to the Peace Process and to immediate cessation of hostilities and decided to resume negotiations in order to achieve  a comprehensive settlement of the conflict on the basis of the DDPD. The two parties agreed on a time frame to start talks after Eid Al-Adha Al-Mubarak.

The Mediation calls upon the other non-signatory Movements to follow suit the Justice and Equality Movement and soon join the peace process with  a view to alleviating the suffering of the population and restoring peace to all parts of Darfur.