Your Excellency Mr. Osman Taha, the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan,

Your Excellency Dr. Al-Tigani Sissie, DRA Chairman,

Honourable Ministers

Your Excellencies the Walis of the Darfur States

Members of the IFC here present

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

My Colleagues from UNAMID and the UN system in Sudan

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Al Salam Alaikum

I am happy to be here today for the inauguration of the DRA Council. Although it is long overdue, this event marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. It is an important milestone because it completes the establishment of the DRA, as the primary mechanism for not only the implementation of the provisions of the DDPD, but also for coordinating with the relevant tiers of Government the recovery and reconstruction efforts and projects in Darfur.

As enshrined in the DDPD, the DRA Council has supervisory, monitoring and organizational competencies and is mandated to examine laws; recommend legislative measures that would promote coordination and cooperation among the States of Darfur; evaluate the performance of the DRA; approve the budget of the DRA; and ensure proper spending and accountability by the DRA, among other competencies. These responsibilities, by any standard, are critical in strengthening the peace process, promoting reconciliation and healing, and in ensuring economic recovery and even development in Darfur.

As I join others in congratulating the Chairman and members of the DRA Council, I urge you all to do your utmost to deliver these public responsibilities and, by so doing, justify the confidence reposed in you. I also call on the Government to empower and adequately fund both the Executive and the Council of the DRA, for them to be able to function fully and effectively.

Despite a number of challenges, it is clear that the DRA Executive branch, in close working relation with the Darfur Peace Follow-up Office has been deploying efforts towards the implementation of the DDPD, with some results, particularly in the DJAM process. 

In my capacity as the Ag Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator, I wish to reiterate the support of both the AU and the UN and indeed members of the larger international community to the DDPD as the basis for achieving a comprehensive peace in Darfur. The international community is keen to see effective and timely implementation of the provisions of this Document as one of the three critical elements of achieving comprehensive and durable peace in Darfur.

On efforts to bring all belligerent parties to the negotiation table, I am happy to mention that preparations have been completed for the resumption of talks between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement very soon in Doha. In this regard, I urge both parties to exercise flexibility in the interest of the people of Darfur who have suffered for too long.

On the internal dialogue and consultation, the third most important element of the peace process, consultations on starting the process are under way, with the facilitators, the DDPD parties as well as all the other stakeholders and the international community

In all this, and in a number of other endeavors related to peace, humanitarian and recovery and reconstruction efforts in Darfur, UNAMID is and will continue to provide support in line with its mandate and capacity. In this regard, I thank the Government of Sudan, the DRA and the State Government for the cooperation we generally receive from them in carrying out our mandated activities

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that this is a very important occasion for the DRA and the DDPD process. We must all bear in mind that establishing institutions of governance such as the DRA  Council is one thing, and making them work for common good is another thing altogether. It requires resources, both human and material, as well as political commitment and an enabling environment in which all stakeholders can contribute.
 

Let us therefore put all hands on deck to help the people of Darfur realize their dreams.

Thank you all and God bless