Working with Communities for Peace

UNAMID’s Civil Affairs personnel are playing a complex and vital role, helping to rebuild trust at the community level and re-establish a culture of peace in the conflict-torn region of Darfur.

By Sharon Lukunka

In early January 2013, a dispute over the ownership of a gold mine in Jebel Amir, North Darfur, led to tribal clashes and hostilities that resulted in an estimated 100 deaths and the displacement of some 100,000 people. The fighting began on 5 January, and the subsequent looting and burning of nearby villages forced thousands to flee southward toward the villages of Kabkabiya, Saraf Omra and El Sereif.

On 7 January, UNAMID dispatched personnel to Jebel Amir and met with the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur to discuss ways to support mediation and reconciliation efforts to bring the disputing tribes together. As the Mission conducted mediation work to bring about a peaceful solution to the feud, the Mission increased the number of daily patrols in the affected areas. The negotiations led to an initial ceasefire agreement signed on 18 January in Saraf Omra. However, the fighting in North Darfur resumed, resulting in additional casualties and displacements.

A key part of such mediation efforts is UNAMID’s Civil Affairs component, which works closely with Government representatives and disputing tribes to end hostilities. In preparation for reconciliation conferences to end similar feuds, Civil Affairs hosts a series of workshops separately with the disputing parties. In the Jebel Amir case, reconciliation workshops began in March, with the support of UNAMID and the Wali of North Darfur; they resulted in a peace agreement on 27 July 2013.

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On 16 July 2013 in El Sereif, North Darfur, children welcome the arrival of a UNAMID delegation and request support with handwritten signs. In early January 2013, a dispute over the ownership of a gold mine in Jebel Amir, North Darfur, led to tribal clashes and hostilities that resulted in an estimated 100 deaths and the displacement of some 100,000 people to the villages of Kabkabiya, Saraf Omra and El Sereif. UNAMID’s Civil Affairs section conducted reconciliation workshops with the feuding tribes to resolve the dispute. Photo by Albert González Farran, UNAMID.