U.S. and European media

February 17, 2023

Reuters: Sudan, Darfur rebels agree to hold peace talks. Sudan's government and a leading Darfur rebel faction agreed on Tuesday to meet for peace talks, signing a deal with concessions from both sides, and the Qatari mediator urged all other rebels and Chad to come to the table. Tuesday's agreement included measures to aid and protect refugees in Darfur and a commitment by the two sides to continue negotiatiations in Doha. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) also wants a prisoner swap. Sudan started negotiations last week with JEM, almost six years into a conflict that international experts say has killed 200,000 people and uprooted 2.7 million. But other influential rebel factions are refusing to talk to Khartoum and the cooperation of neighbouring Chad, which hosts refugees fleeing Darfur, is seen as key to any lasting peace.

Reuters: SNAP ANALYSIS-Doubts remain over Darfur accord. Sudan's government signed a tentative accord with one of Darfur's main rebel groups on Tuesday that could pave the way to full peace talks, almost six years into the festering conflict. The agreement between Khartoum and the insurgent Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) will be seen as a step forward in efforts to resolve the conflict that, international experts say, has killed 200,000 since 2003. But serious doubts remain over whether the deal will hold or build into a lasting agreement that will satisfy even the majority of the remote region's warring rebels. Other agreements have failed before. The conflict's six-year history is littered with failed ceasefires, tentative agreements and one full peace deal -- the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement that was only signed by one group.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: From the heart of darkness. Luke and Jennifer Reynolds knew they had to find to a way to help the people of Darfur. The conviction came over the Reynoldses three years ago, after reading articles and editorials about the genocide in Darfur, in the western region of Sudan. Mr. Reynolds, then a graduate student in English at Northern Arizona University, had considered putting together an anthology of essays by celebrated writers. His wife, who also was a graduate student, added another layer, suggesting that they donate the proceeds from the compilation to the Save Darfur Coalition, a nonprofit organization. After three years of hard work, the couple's anthology of 40 essays, titled "Dedicated to the People of Darfur: Writings on Fear, Risk and Hope," will be published in the fall by Rutgers University Press. In recognition of their accomplishment, the Darfur coalition has named the Reynoldses its February "Darfur Heroes" for their creativity and fundraising abilities.

The Darfur Daily News is a service of the Save Darfur Coalition. To subscribe to the Daily News, please email [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Roberts at (202) 478-6181, or [email protected].