Darfur peace partners vow full implementation of Doha agreement
October 22, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government officials and leader of the Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) pledged on Saturday to fully implement the Doha Darfur Peace Document (DDPD) and called on the non-signatory rebels to join their efforts for a lasting settlement to eight year conflict in Western Sudan.
He was received at Khartoum International Airport by Presidential Assistant and deputy chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Nafie Ali Nafie and state minister at the presidency Amin Hassan Omer, who negotiated the deal with the former rebel group.
Sissi, who was warmly received at the airport by his supporters pledged to work tirelessly to implement the deal saying “it reflects the aspirations of the people of Darfur.” He also underlined that the Doha agreement which is supported by international and regional communities will establish “a new phase for peace” in the restive region.
Addressing a public rally in Khartoum, the newly appointed head of Darfur regional authority asserted his determination to overcome all the obstacles facing the implementation of the peace deal and pledged to fight tribalism.
Sissi further called on the rebel groups to join the peace deal, stressing that he will prioritise the return of the displaced persons and refugees to their villages and repairing the social fabric after all these years of war. He also called to end the fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue and to negotiate a peaceful settlement.
Khartoum, which seeks to end the Darfur conflict after the secession of South Sudan and the emergence of new armed conflicts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, said it intended to seriously engage in the implementation of the agreement, but refused to open new talks with the rebels opposed to the deal.
Presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafi speaking at the public reception reiterated the government’s intention to proceed with the implementation of the Doha document and to cooperate with their partner for peace in Darfur. He further said “we promise our brothers in the Liberation and Justice Movement that they will find our hearts and minds open to work together to enforce rigorously the letter and spirit of the Doha agreement”.
The state minister, Amin Hassan Omer who chairs the Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of the Doha agreement, echoed Nafie statements and repeated the commitment of the government to enforce the deal in order to achieve comprehensive peace in Darfur.
In a statement he made on the eve of Sissi’s return to Khartoum Amin said by sending its state minister, who brokered the peace deal with the Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole, Qatar wanted to “to send a message [saying] that its role is not over with the signing of the DDPD, but it is a full partner in the implementation of the peace agreement on the ground.”
Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud told the meeting that Qatar’s role will not stop at the signing of the peace agreement, but will contribute directly in supporting the development and reconstruction projects in Darfur and provide the necessary assistance to the return of displaced persons to their villages.
Qatar pledged two billion dollars for the post-peace recovery and development projects. A special bank for Darfur development will be established.
The head of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur Ibrahim Gambari was among those who received Sissi and Al-Mahmoud at Khartoum airport.
In a statement released on Saturday he welcomed Sissi’s return to Sudan, saying it “is the first harvest of what we hope will be a fruitful and sustainable peace for the benefit of all the people of Sudan.”
Sissi is expected to be sworn-in as chairman of Darfur Regional Authority on Sunday.
(ST)