Darfur donor conference to kick off on Sunday
March 19, 2010 (CAIRO) – An international donor conference will kick off in the Egyptian capital on Sunday with aim to raise two billion dollar for the reconstruction of the war ravaged Darfur region in western Sudan.
Co-chaired by Egypt and Turkey, the one day meeting is sponsored by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which groups 57 members.
“The conference aims to send a clear message to the international community that development is a key factor in achieving peace and stability in Darfur,” said a statement released by the Egyptian foreign ministry.
The two billion dollars will be dedicated to finance a long list of development projects in agriculture, water supply, health and education. The OIC will form a follow-up committee tasked with overseeing the running of projects.
Egypt had initially proposed to hold this conference since the signing of Abuja peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi in May 2006.
The continuation of the war in the region delayed the conference, but Egypt since last December once again showed its interest and got the green light from Khartoum asking to associate Turkey to the preparations of the conference.
Qatar, which sponsors the peace process to end Darfur conflict, announced last February that it allocated one billion dollar for development project in Darfur.
The Emir of Qatar made public this announcement during the signing ceremony of a framework agreement between the government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement on February 23.
(ST)