Participants of the conference attend the first session in Alsalam Rotana in Khartoum. Photo by Hamid Abdulsalam.

Khartoum, 10 September 2013 – Prominent Darfuri leaders took part in a conference to discuss the root causes of the recent tribal conflicts in Darfur and find possible solutions for sustainable peaceful coexistence amongst tribes. The event was held in Khartoum on 9 September.

The forum, which was organized by the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), brought together over 114 participants from Darfur who reside in Sudan’s capital, representing parliamentarians, former walis (governors) and ministers, civil society organizations, government officials and community leaders, as well as women and youth associations. The chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority, El Tigani Seisi, and the UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR), Joseph Mutaboba, opened the conference.

In his opening speech, the DJSR emphasized the importance of the conference. “As key political, social and intellectual leaders of Darfur, your meeting today demonstrates your readiness to address the recurring tribal conflicts and finding solutions for sustainable peaceful coexistence in Darfur,” Mr. Mutaboba said.

The deputy head of the Mission added that social peace and reconciliation are key prerequisites for security, stability and development. “We should all work together and cooperate effectively in preventing further bloodshed and tribal conflicts,” he said. “Help us to help you,” he concluded.

As an attempt to ease the recent escalation of tribal violence, the participants recommended the disarmament of armed people, the establishment of laws that regulate relations between farmers and pastoralists and the settlement of disputes over land resources. 

This event was the first of a series of conferences that the UNAMID’s Civil Affairs section intends to organize in the five states of Darfur to address the causes of tribal clashes in the region and to chart out the best ways of promoting social peace.