Commission on Wealth Sharing Gets Under Way

AFRICAN UNION

Dec 9, 2005 (ABUJA) — The Commission on Wealth Sharing, one of the three Negotiating Frameworks for the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on the Conflict in Darfur, got under way this afternoon in Abuja, Nigeria, under the Chairmanship of its Coordinator Mr. Ablassé Ouedraogo, former Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, currently serving as Senior Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank (ADB).

In attendance were all the Sudanese Parties, Representatives of the Co-Mediators, Facilitators and the International Partners. Present also was the AU Special Envoy for Darfur and Chief Mediator, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim.

The AU Special Envoy underscored the need for the Commission to endeavour to arrive at an Agreement that would alleviate the sufferings of the people of Darfur. He added that the Commission on Wealth Sharing was meeting with a lot of advantages on its side, especially with the various Workshops that had been held and the extensive consultations earlier conducted. Dr. Salim then urged the Parties not to lose sight of their responsibility towards the people of Darfur.

Earlier, in his opening statement, the Chairman Mr. Ouedraogo indicated that the Commission on Wealth Sharing was being convened against the background of the Workshop facilitated by the World Bank, the Norwegian Peace Research Institute (PRIO) and USAID, in Nairobi from 10 to 15 November and the earlier Workshops organized by the African Union in Abuja on 20 – 21 September 2005 during the 6th Round. These Workshops, said Mr. Ouedraogo, were intended to strengthen the knowledge and negotiating capacities of the Sudanese Parties vis-à-vis a subject so technical and difficult as Wealth Sharing.

Following the above statements, the Commission on Wealth Sharing reviewed its Agenda, the first Item being the Concepts and General Principles for Wealth Sharing. On this Item, the Sudanese Parties discussed the possibility of establishing a Joint Assessment Mission for Darfur, comprising Representatives of the Sudanese Parties and the International Partners to evaluate the reconstruction needs of the region.

It is to be recalled that the Commission on Wealth Sharing adopted its Agenda at the close of the previous Round. The Items include, among others, Fiscal Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations; Economic Policies; Urgent Programmes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees and Other War Affected Persons; and Reconstruction, Investment and Development. The Commission will continue its meeting at 9 a.m. tomorrow Saturday, 10 December 2005.

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