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El Fasher, 22 Aug 11 – UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari opened the inaugural meeting of the Cease Fire Commission (CFC), saying entire communities in Darfur were looking to it for leadership to take Darfur forward after the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

“The work of the Cease Fire Commission is vital for the implementation of the peace agreement,” JSR Gambari told the meeting in El Fasher. “The Commission carries on its shoulders the dreams of many for rupture with the past and the hopes of many more for a better future for their children and communities,” he added.

The CFC under UNAMID was established to implement provisions of various peace deals signed by parties to the conflict in Darfur, dating back to the N’Djamena Humanitarian Cease Fire accord of 2008. It has now been strengthened by the signing of the DDPD between the Government of the Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) on July 14.

Chaired by UNAMID’s Force Commander (FC) and including senior representatives of the Government of the Sudan, the LJM and a representative of the Government of Qatar which hosted the peace talks, the CFC’s functions are critical to implementation of the provisions of the DDPD, and ultimately the Permanent Ceasefire and Final security Arrangements.

These functions include monitoring all violations against the DDPD as well as older accords, monitoring of dialogue among parties that have signed the agreement and ensuring the safety of those implementing these accords.

JSR Gambari said UNAMID for its part will continue to extend all necessary support for the implementation of the Doha agreement which he said “provides a unique opportunity for a new beginning” in Darfur.

“It plants the seeds for enduring peace and paves the way for a better tomorrow for all Dafuris,” he said.

The inaugural meeting, which was chaired by UNAMID’s FC Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba, brought together senior representatives of the Sudanese military and government, the LJM and UNAMID.

The CFC’s next meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2011 to build on the momentum of the inaugural session.