01 Mar 12 - More than 300 students at North Darfur's main university today debated over whether an economic or political solution was the answer to the conflict in Darfur.

The annual debate, attended by the State's senior most official as well as the head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), addressed "Sustainable Peace in Darfur: is the solution political or economic."

While the majority of students attending voted with the political solution, some saw that both paths together were needed for a sustainable peace.

"Both political and economic solutions are equally important and cannot be separated in achieving peace," said Majida Ahmad, a lecturer at El Fasher University. "Darfur has suffered a lot during the conflict. Achieving peace now would be possible only if there will be fair policy, and job opportunities that should be given without ethnic discrimination."

The occasion, organized by the university's Centre for Peace and Development UNAMID, was opened by North Darfur Wali (Governor) Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir and UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari.

"Education is critical to peace, and it is fully addressed in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur," JSR Gambari said. "You students are the hope and the future of Darfur. Your constructive engagement will be key in advancing and consolidating the efforts for peace."

Professor Gambari urged the students to familiarize themselves with the peace document which is currently under implementation in Darfur and the subject of dozens of community workshops across the region: "The parties (to the agreement) must continue their efforts and increase the pace to bring the tangible dividends of peace to all Darfuris," he said. "But this needs to happen soon."

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