EL FASHER—A senior delegation from the Government of Qatar, along with the newly sworn-in chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority, landed in El Fasher today and vowed to the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Peacekeeping Mission to continue the drive for peace in Darfur.

Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud led the Qatar
delegation, while Al-Tigani Al Seisi led a large group of members of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in a
joint visit to Darfur that began with a meeting at UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher. The Wali (governor) of North Darfur Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir was also at the meeting.

UNAMID Joint Special Representative and interim Joint Chief Mediator Ibrahim Gambari told the delegations that “We are
ready to fully implement the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and to get all the parties to join the peace
process.”

Nearly two years of peace talks on Darfur culminated in Doha in July with the signing of the DDPD by the Government of Sudan and the LJM, one of the armed movements who have been engaged in the Darfur conflict. The Doha Darfur Peace Document created a Darfur Regional Authority, and Al Seisi, who was sworn in to lead that authority yesterday, returned to Darfur today for the first time in 21 years.

Deputy Prime Minister Al Mahmoud reiterated his Country’s commitment to continue to press for peace in Darfur, stressing the importance of implementing the DDPD as soon as possible. He said that Qatar will continue to consult with the Government of the Sudan and UNAMID on the need to identify areas that need urgent development.

“It is important for the people to feel the fruits of peace,” he said. “You can count on us to make peace happen in
Darfur.”

Chairperson Al Seisi expressed his appreciation for the efforts of UNAMID and the Government of Qatar, adding that the new Darfur Authority will work very closely with UNAMID to implement the Doha Document.