[holding answer 6 March 2008]: There has been no further recent progress in the Darfur political process owing to various factors including fragmentation among rebel groups. The African Union (AU) and the UN assess that there are now five main rebel groups in Darfur. They are currently talking to all of these groups both in and outside of Darfur to encourage them to unify further and agree on common platforms for negotiations with the Government of Sudan. The UN/AU will be hosting a meeting of international partners in Geneva on 18 March to set out the current status of the peace process and how to move it forward including in relation to the level of rebel engagement. The UK is discussing that issue with the UN and other partners in the run-up to that meeting.
My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for International Development, in a joint statement of 27 February expressed concern about recent violence by all sides in West Darfur, and called for continued international attention including by the Security Council.