Khartoum, 09 December 2018 – The 14th meeting of the Implementation Follow-up Commission (IFC) of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) was held today in Khartoum, Sudan. The Commission discussed progress made and the challenges faced in the implementation of the DDPD since its last meeting which was held on 11 July 2018, in Doha.

The meeting was chaired by the Special Envoy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Counterterrorism, Mediation and Conflict Resolution of the State of Qatar, H.E, Dr. Mutlaq al-Qahtani, and hosted by Ambassador Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabolo, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative (JSR) and Joint Chief Mediator (JCM). The Government of Sudan was represented by Dr. Amin Hassan Omer, Presidential Envoy for Negotiations and Diplomatic Communications, and Mr. Magdi Khalafalla, Head of the Darfur Peace Follow-up Office; National Liberation and Justice Party represented by Dr. Eltigani Sesi; Liberation and Justice Party represented by Dr. Bahar Idriss Abugarda; Justice and Equality Movement/Sudan represented by Mr. Bakheit Abdullah Abdelkarim; and Sudan Liberation Movement -Second Revolution represented by Mr.Abulgasim Imam Elhaj. Also, present were the representatives of the European Union, Canada, Chad, China, France, Japan, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States of America as well as Germany as an observer.

Darfur peace process and development, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex- combatants, arms collection, Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation, voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) among other issues, were discussed at the meeting.

During the meeting, all participants welcomed the signing of the pre- negotiation agreement between the Government of Sudan and Justice and Equality Movement - Jibril Ibrahim and Sudan Liberation Movement – Mini Minawi in Berlin and hoped that this would lead to substantive negotiations on cessation of hostilities and resumption of negotiations in Doha next month. They also called for more intensive efforts to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to voluntarily return to their areas of origin as well the reintegration of ex- combatants. Given UNAMID’s ongoing draw- down, there was concensus on the need for more intensive coordination between UNAMID, Darfur Peace Follow-up Office, signatory movements and other DDPD stakeholders.

The parties to the IFC, including members of the international community have once again called on the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement- Abdulwahid to come to the negotiation table and join the peace process.

Addressing the meeting, the Special Envoy al-Qahtani  renewed his country’s pledge to continue its unwavering support for the DDPD. “On this occasion, I urge the donors to help in the return of internally displaced persons to their areas of origin. Now, we  urgently need to implement development projects in Darfur as our ultimate goal is to achieve security and peace in the region,” said Mr. al-Qahtani.

Presenting the IFC Secretariat's report to the meeting, JSR Mamabolo reiterated UNAMID’s commitment to continue to support the implementation of the remaining provisions of the DDPD. “UNAMID shall continue to engage with the IFC members for the sake of a comprehensive and sustainable peace across Darfur,” the JSR said.