Sudan and LJM reschedule implementation of Darfur peace deal

July 18, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government and the former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) agreed on Wednesday to reschedule the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Signed on 14 July 2011 three days after the secession of South Sudan, the deal provides to hold a referendum on the administrative status of the region within two years after the voluntary return of the displaced civilians.

However, due to the lack of money, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) tasked with the implementation of the agreement has just moved last month to its premises in El-Fasher and organised a conference to prepare the IDPs return.

The rescheduling agreement was signed in Khartoum by Amin Hassan Omer, head of DDPD implementation follow-up office, for the Sudanese government and health minister Bahar Idriss Abu Garda for the former rebel group.

LJM chairman and head of DRA, Tijani El-Sissis admitted the slow implementation of the peace deal. He further said the issue was discussed recently by the government, LJM and the UNAMID in Doha where it was decided to establish a new reschedule for the DDPD implementation.

Meanwhile, Amin Hassan Omer who was also Sudan’s top negotiator at the Doha process, stressed that there is a need to work seriously with the regional authority to create a conducive environment for confidence building, to provide services and pay the compensations.

A donor conference is expected to be held next December to draw over two billions of dollars the DRA says necessary to finalise the recovery and development projects, Sudan and Qatar committed themselves to pay four billions.

(ST)