Khartoum, 9 May 2016 – The eleventh meeting of the Implementation Follow-up Commission (IFC) of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) was held today in Khartoum, Sudan. The Commission discussed the progress made and the challenges faced in the implementation of the DDPD since its last meeting which was held on 8 September 2015, in Doha, Qatar.

The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, H.E. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, and hosted by Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative (JSR) and Joint Chief Mediator (JCM). The Government of Sudan was represented by Mr.Amin Hassan Omer, National Liberation and Justice Party represented by Mr. Tigani Sesi, Liberation and Justice Party represented by Mr. Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, and Justice and Equality Movement- Sudan was represented by Mr. Nahar Osman Nahar. Also present were the representatives of the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, Canada, Chad, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, Organization of Islamic Conference and the United States of America.  

Darfur peace process and development, voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and reintegration of ex- combatants, among other issues, were discussed in the meeting.

Presenting the IFC Secretariat's report to the meeting, JSR Uhomoibhi reiterated UNAMID’s commitment and determination to continue to support and cooperate with DDPD parties and IFC members in implementing the mandated tasks, as stipulated in the DDPD. “UNAMID remains committed to the provisions of the DDPD as the comprehensive way forward to establishing sustainable peace across Darfur,” said the JSR.

He highlighted the progress made in implementing some provisions of the DDPD, most notably the appointment of several members of the National Liberation and Justice Party (NLJP) and Liberation and Justice Party (LJP) in government positions. He also commended the release of approximately 1 million US dollars by the Government of Sudan for the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation (DIDC) process. 

The JSR updated the forum on the ongoing peace process in Darfur and highlighted the significant humanitarian consequences of the ongoing fighting in the Jebel Marra area. He also expressed concern over the recent outbreak of violence in East Darfur. However, he noted that, overall, inter-tribal clashes have shown a marked decrease largely due to timely interventions of the State Governments and the Native Administration.

Furthermore, JSR Uhomoibhi briefed on his activities as Joint Chief Mediator and his meetings with the armed movements in Addis Ababa last month and assured the forum that he will continue the dialogue with the movements. He underlined UNAMID’s efforts in support of expediting the implementation of the Final Security Arrangements provisions of the DDPD for ex-combatants of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan (JEM-Sudan) and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).      

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Al Mahmoud renewed his country’s pledge to continue its steadfast support for the DDPD and strongly urged other international stakeholders and IFC members to rededicate themselves and demonstrate their continuing support through fulfilling their commitments and pledges in order to facilitate timely and enhanced implementation of the DDPD with a view to enhancing peace and stability in the region. “On this occasion, I urge the non-signatory armed movements to join the peace proses as soon as possible for the sake of homeland’s interest and the people of Darfur” underlined Mr. Al Mahmoud.