Members of the Sudanese government and representatives from the two rebel groups opposing it met in the Chad capital, Ndjamena, on 6 April for their first face-to-face talks since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2003. The struggle began when the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice & Equality Movement took up arms against the regime, fighting against the perceived oppression of black Africans by Arabs.

In response to the uprising, Khartoum mobilised an armed Arab militia called the Janjaweed to fight the rebels. The proxy force has been accused of several atrocities including murder, looting and mass rape during attacks on remote villages. Hundreds of thousands of civilians fled to neighbouring Chad as a result, creating what the UN refugee agency UNHCR has described as the 'world's greatest humanitarian and human rights catastrophe'.

The Ndjamena talks have been in the pipeline for some time, but both sides had been reluctant to sit at the negotiating table. However, a breakthrough was made in early April, when Khartoum acquiesced to a rebel demand that international mediators be present at the talks.

A draft plan put forward by Chadian intermediaries calls for the implementation of a ceasefire to create an opportunity to help resolve the humanitarian crisis. Aid agencies hope an agreement can be reached before the onset of the rainy season in June, which would hamper aid efforts.

The UN has launched a mission to investigate claims of human rights abuses in Darfur. Khartoum has repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining that it has full control over the province.