Statement delivered by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari at the closing ceremony of the All Darfur Stakeholders Conference in Doha

Your Excellency, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar;
Your Excellency, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar;
Your Excellency, Djibril Bassolé, AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator and Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso;
Your Excellencies, Special Envoys and heads of delegations of international partners;
Distinguished representatives of the Parties;
Distinguished Delegates to the All Darfur Stakeholders Conference;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to begin my statement by conveying my sincere appreciation and that of UNAMID to His Royal Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and to the government and people of Qatar for their generosity and their great commitment to the Darfur peace process, and congratulate them warmly for rising to the occasion, once again, to host and guide this very important All Darfur Stakeholders Conference to a successful conclusion.

I commend the personal commitment, enormous patience and heroic dedication of both Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole. They have made tireless efforts in directing and guiding the mediation process through very challenging moments and circumstances until where we are today.

The representatives of the parties gathered here today also deserve our commendation, especially those that continue to show good faith in negotiating a peaceful and just settlement of the conflict in Darfur which continues to inflict great sufferings on the people of Darfur.
     
Tribute must also be paid to the peace-loving people of Darfur represented here today by the Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees, Darfuris in the Diaspora, Civil Society and Political leaders. This gathering of minds across the wide spectrum of Darfur society is yet another testimony that the people of Darfur earnestly desire to put an end to the conflict in the region.

Last but far from being the least, I would like to commend the critical and steady support received from international partners, many of whom are represented here on this occasion and without which the work for peace in Darfur would have been difficult if not impossible.

Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

By its mandate, the UNAMID is obliged to support the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in Abuja and any other internationally recognised agreements to end the conflict in Darfur. That is why UNAMID has worked pro-actively to support the work of the Mediation in Doha by providing logistical, administrative, technical support, human resource capacity building and substantive support in order to ensure a successful outcome.

I am therefore pleased to see that an outcome document that would form the basis for an inclusive and comprehensive agreement to end the conflict in Darfur has been produced through negotiations, dialogues and consultations with the parties and other relevant stakeholders during this process in Doha. This outcome document would form the basis for further discussions by the African Union, United Nations and other international partners in the coming weeks to determine how best to proceed in consolidating the success of the Doha peace process. The next steps would include, first, the formation of an International Follow-up Committee, chaired by Qatar, to assist the Parties in implementing any subsequent agreement and, secondly, an internal process of consultation and dialogue.

Obstacles remain, however, to these logical steps: these include the ongoing military clashes between the Government of Sudan and rebel movements in parts of Darfur; the refusal of some of the armed movements to join the Doha peace process; the Emergency and Security laws whose provisions hamper and restrict freedoms in Darfur; the unity of the armed movements, for more fighting rather than for peace. These impediments need to be seriously addressed as we contemplate the next steps to bring the Doha outcome to the people of Darfur for enrichment, ownership and inclusive participation and legitimacy.

This would require willingness by all sides to make meaningful concessions in the interest of the people of Darfur who have suffered for too long and who look forward to some cheering news from the outcome and next steps to this process. It will also require the active engagement of the international partners and other stake-holders. Sudan is at cross roads: now is certainly the time to allow for healing and reconciliation, for early recovery and development and not for more armed confrontation between the movements and government forces.

I therefore call on all the parties represented here today to commit themselves to seek only peaceful measures, through dialogue and negotiations to achieve durable and irreversible peace in Darfur.

Finally, UNAMID stands ready and committed as always to work with the parties and international partners to ensure that the Doha outcome leads to comprehensive and all inclusive peace agreement which will end the conflict in Darfur and begin the process for healing, for renewal, for reconstruction and for development for the much traumatised people in the region.

I thank you all for listening.