Sudan’s FVP: disarmament will boost security in Darfur

April 18, 2016 (EL FASHER) – The Sudanese First Vice President, Bakri Hassan Salih, said Darfur had been subjected to a big international plot, adding that disarmament will create suitable environment for security and stability in the region.

He made his remarks on Monday in El Fasher during a workshop to develop a plan of action for disarmament organized by Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) in collaboration with Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Commission, Darfur hybrid peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) and UN Development Programme.

Salih told the workshop that Darfur had faced international conspiracy but now it has started recovering. He added that the organization of this workshop shows the government’s determination to establish security and to maintain peace and stability in Darfur.

He further asserted that the DDR will create peaceful environment and achieve security and stability.

When the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir visited Darfur region earlier this month, he announced his government’s willingness to collect arms and to reduce its usage only among the regular forces. He promised that the DDR process, during a first phase, will be through volunteer collection in exchange for money.

For his part, DRA Chairman Tijani al-Sissi said that security situation in Darfur is stable, adding that the armed groups have no presence on the ground and they do not pose a security threat in the region at the present time

Sisi went on to say that all evidence points to the proliferation of the arm as the real cause of the crisis in Darfur, adding that the region has become a booming market for arms.

He also expected that disarmament will not be easy and will face resistance from the beneficiaries of the proliferation of arms in Darfur.

(ST)