Premise of Interim Authority in Darfur inaugurated in Niyala
By Mayen Deng
April 28, 2007 (NIYALA) — The premise of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) was officially inaugurated here yesterday amid wide popular and official participation.
While addressing the ceremony, the Senior Assistant of the President and Chairman of the TDRA Minni Arku Minawi said the inauguration of the TDRA was the real beginning of the Darfur authority.
Minawi explained that the Darfur Authority will work to remove tribalism and racism in Darfur, saying that Darfur society is considered as one cohesive social unit.
He revealed that among the top priorities of the Interim Authority in Darfur is to set up the joint commissions according to Abuja agreement as well as assisting the IDPs and refugees to return to their home villages.
In this regard, he commended the efforts being exerted by the Government of South Darfur State with respect to development and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the Governor of North Darfur State, Mohammed Osman Yusof Kibir, expressed happiness over the performance of the Government of South Darfur with respect of development and reconciliation, stressing importance of unifying efforts to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur States.
The ceremony was attended by the chairman of the TDRA,Minni Minawi and presidential advisor Majzoub al-Khalifah in addition to the governors of the three Darfur states and heads of the four commissions.
The chairman of the resettlement and reconstruction commission, Ibrahim Madhibu, said in a press statement that the TDRA held its first interim authority meeting in Al-Fashir. He further said the meeting discussed the authority’s general guidelines, the agenda for upcoming meetings and work priorities.
He added that the authority is intending to submit a request to the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, asking for participation in the upcoming negotiations with the Abuja non-signatories.
(ST)