60% of the Doha agreement on Darfur has been implemented, says official

March 29, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The chairman of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Dr Tijani Al-Sissi said that 60% of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) has been implemented despite challenges.

Al- Sissi who was speaking in an interview with Sudan Radio on Friday noted that the remaining terms of the DDPD are those which could have an impact on the lives of people, attributing non-implementation to lack of money.

The Darfuri figure said that tribal polarization in Darfur represented another challenge and cited the incident of the gold mine in Jabal Amer in North Darfur, where thousands have perished and tens of thousands were left homeless in clashes between Rizeigat Abbala (camel men) and Bani Hussein tribes.

The DRA chief appealed to non-signatories rebel groups urging them to go to Doha for negotiations and underscored the futility of fighting. He also expressed his support of any amendments made to the DDPD that would enhance the sustainability of security and stability in Darfur.

The DDPD was finalized at the All Darfur Stakeholders Conference in May 2011 in Doha. In mid-July the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) led by al-Sissi signed a protocol agreement committing them to the document.

The Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Abdel-Wahid Nur (SLM-AW) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign the accord and remain at war with Khartoum.

Al-Sissi said that old agreements and the one which was concluded recently with the splinter faction of JEM will encourage the rest of the movements, calling on those who didn’t sign to catch up.

He invited the JEM leader Jibril Ibrahim to negotiate and sign saying he is prepared to meet him anytime and anywhere for the sake of Darfur its people and stability.

Al-Sissi also confirmed the U.S. participation in the donors’ conference which will be held in Doha on the 6th and 7th of April saying that its delegation will be comprised of a delegation from the State Department, U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, USAID and other U.S. organizations invited by the Qatari government.

He went on to say that he is optimistic about the success of the conference disclosing that they have made a flexible proposal for the donors to form an advisory committee to oversee and manage the funds according to the re-reconstruction strategy.

(ST)