Darfur rebel chief sworn in as head of regional authority
October 23, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The head of a Darfur rebel group was sworn in by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Sunday as the head of the regional authority to satisfy one of the main deliverables of the Doha Darfur Peace Document (DDPD).
El-Sissi cautioned however, that LJM and the government have a long way to go which requires cooperation between the two sides while benefiting from views and experiences of Darfur stakeholders.
He said that Bashir instructed that priority be given for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes.
The LJM chief noted many challenges ahead including mending the social fabric, reconstruction and development which he said requires ample resources. He disclosed that the government agreed to allocate $2 billion annually for that purpose.
El-Sissi said that the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) will be formed in the coming days after consultation with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
He urged non-signatories to join the DDPD and put down their arms so they can work together for reconstructing the war ravaged region.
In a related issue LJM chief negotiator Tadjadine Beshir Niam, confirmed participation in a forum being held in Washington on Darfur peace which would witness participation of rebel groups that refused to sign the agreement.
The Sudanese government said it will boycott the meeting scheduled in mid-November and warned that the gathering will undermine the Doha agreement.
However, US officials insist that the meeting does not aim to launch a new initiative or to replace the Doha venue but intends to discuss ways to revitalise the process and include the other rebel groups in the talks.
Qatar’s state minister of foreign affairs Al-Mahmood has revealed his country’s approval of the forum and its intention to participate in it during a phone conversation he had with US special envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman.
(ST)