EU, UNDP and UNAMID launch project to strengthen peace dialogue in Darfur

2 Aug 2016

EU, UNDP and UNAMID launch project to strengthen peace dialogue in Darfur

Khartoum, 2 August 2016 – The Delegation of the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) today launched a project to strengthen peace efforts and reconciliation through dialogue in Darfur. The event took place at the Corinthia Hotel in Khartoum, Sudan.

The project, partially funded by the EU through a contribution of 800,000 euro, will utilize UNAMID’s political direction and UNDP’s operational assistance to support the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultations (DIDC) process, one of the main pillars of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tigani Seisi, Chairman, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), said “the ongoing conflict needs to be addressed at the grassroots level.” He went on to describe the DIDC as “an instrument for inclusive debate and consultations to mend social relations and take Darfur back to cohesiveness.” Furthermore, Dr. Seisi called on the international community to reinforce their political and financial commitment to Darfur.

Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, Head of the Delegation of the European Union, expressed his hope that the Darfur Dialogue process would provide a forum for the people of Darfur to come together, build trust and participate actively in the peace process. "Sustainable peace in Darfur requires all the Sudanese parties to step up efforts to implement the Doha Peace Agreement, and also to deliver an inclusive comprehensive national dialogue," he added.

On his part, UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative-Political, Kingsley Mamabolo, emphasized the importance of the latest funding contribution from the EU and appealed to the international community and donors for funding support to complete the DIDC process, calling it a “unique process that has great potential to consolidate peace and stability in Darfur through consultation and dialogue.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Country Director, UNDP, thanked the EU for its contribution to the DIDC process. “This contribution comes at a crucial time as it will enable the DIDC process to continue enhancing peace and stability in Darfur,” he stated, while reiterating UNDP’s consistent efforts to work with national and international partners to promote stability and development across Sudan. 

Additionally, the representatives of the EU, UNDP, UNAMID and the DIDC Implementation Committee thanked the Government of Sudan for its contribution of 6.44 million SDG (equivalent of one million US dollars) to the process in March, as part of its two million dollar pledge, and acknowledged the role of the State of Qatar in generously providing the seed funding for the DIDC process to be launched.

The overarching objective of the DIDC is to consolidate peace in Darfur by promoting confidence-building and encouraging reconciliation, as well as unity, among the people of Darfur and Sudan.

Note to Editors:

The event was attended by Dr. Amin Hassan Omar Abdullah, Head of the Darfur Peace Follow-up Office; Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, Head of the Delegation of the European Union; Kingsley Mamabolo, Deputy Joint Special Representative-Political, UNAMID; Mr. Selva Ramachandran, Country Director, UNDP; Mr. Siddig Adam Abdallah, Chairperson of the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultations (DIDC) Implementation Committee; and Dr. Tigani Seisi, Chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority as well as other key national and international figures.