Sudan endorses $1.9 billion plan for Darfur development
August 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government will implement development and recovery projects in the restive region of Darfur at a total cost of $1.9 billion, finance minister announced today.
Sudan’s Vice President, Ali Osman Taha chaired Monday a meeting for the Higher Committee for the enforcement Peace strategy in Darfur. The meeting, attended by ministers of economic and service sectors, discussed development projects to be established in the region.
Finance and National Economy Minister, Ali Mahmoud, told reporters that the meeting discussed projects to be implemented in Darfur in the coming stage and funds dedicated for these development projects.
It also tackled coordination between the different bodies to establish projects related to roads, electricity, water, health services and education, as well as the reconstruction of villages, IDPs voluntary return and expansion of agricultural schemes and improvement of production.
The minister further said the meeting agreed to complete the road of Western Salvation, at a cost of $304 million in the sectors Al-Nihoud, Um Kadadah, El Fasher, Nyala, in addition to a number of rehabilitation projects in the three states of Darfur.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) approved last July a new strategy aiming at achieving peace in Darfur from inside the country. The peace plan according to the Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani, who is in charge of the file aims to tackle issues related to IDPs return, greater role for elected governors and local institutions in the resolution of the seven year conflict.
Speaking to the press following the meeting, Ghazi said the meeting also discussed how the endorsed development projects can contribute to pave the ways for a comprehensive peace in the troubled region.
“The government’s new strategy to deal with the Darfur issues stands on five courses including the negotiations, development, services, reconciliations and security. All these courses are presently going on together,” he stressed.
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Paul Ongee
Sudan endorses $1.9 billion plan for Darfur development
“Sudanese government will implement development and recovery projects in the restive region of Darfur at a total cost of $1.9 billion, finance minister announced today.”
What is going on on the mind of Sudan? A $1.9 billion plan for Darfur development and recovery project can be easily endorsed BUT the question remains how can these development projects take place or be implemented “in the restive region of Darfur” and the failing peace talks in Doha? The idea makes perfect sense when there is no any war still going on in Darfur.
There should be a permanent cease-fire between the warring parties to enable a peaceful or voluntary repatriation of IDPs to take place but NOT forceful relocation of IDPs, limiting access to humanitarian aid and continued bombardments of JEM’s positions to force Ibrahim Khalil in Libya and Wahid Al-Nur in Paris to agree to come to Doha. As I have said before, I have no idea what kind of political calculator and formula that Khartoum is using to bring genuine peace and development to Darfur people.