With the establishment of regional institutions in Darfur as part of the Doha political process, it is now critical to launch initiatives that could consolidate peace and persuade communities outside of the peace process to join, UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari told the United Nations Security Council on 24 July 2012.​

“It is time for the task of peacekeeping to be complemented by initiatives that advance peacebuilding and early recovery and development in Darfur,” said JSR Gambari, whose presentation to the Security Council was followed by a statement from the representative of Sudan.

Introducing the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNAMID, Mr. Gambari said that while sustainable peace was in sight, progress was fragile and easily reversible “should we lose focus.” The people of Darfur, he said, had suffered too long and too deeply to allow any setbacks or regression.

Mr. Gambari added that the establishment of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), as required by the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, provides a “new and direct partner with which to advance our common goal of peace in Darfur.” He said the implementation of the Document by its signatories--the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM)--is mostly related to the establishment of such institutions. The JSR went on to say that other provisions were behind schedule, although representatives of the parties initialled a revised timetable on 18 July, recommitting to timely implementation.

It appeared, he said, that the Government has the political will for implementation of the agreement, but faces financial stresses. In this context, he noted, the DRA has initiated the recovery and development assessment mission provided for in the Document, with the support of UNAMID and other international parties. Projected to be completed by the end of the year, this mission is expected to form the basis for resource mobilization.

In the effort to engage nonsignatory parties in Darfur, Mr. Gambari said that in addition to discussions with the major movements, several smaller armed factions have expressed interest in holding talks. In discussions with Sudanese officials, it was agreed that the environment was suitable to relaunch the mediation process through preliminary consultations with all interested opposition movements using the Doha Document as a basis. In that context, he said, UNAMID has continued to assist the parties to disseminate the Document, in conjunction with civil society organizations.

In the same vein, the Regional Authority’s All Stakeholder’s Conference in El Fasher from 10 to 12 July provided a forum, for the first time since the Doha agreement, for Darfur stakeholders to take stock and recommend the way forward, with more than 100 people expressing their views freely. Mr. Gambari said that while many speakers at the event were critical of the Government, he had not heard of any instances of reprisals or intimidation. He said he considered the conference valuable preparation for eventual Darfur internal dialogue and consultations, and he commended the Regional Authority for its organizing efforts.

Describing incidents of bombing by the Sudanese Air Force and clashes between the Government and unidentified armed movements that occurred since the end of the reporting period, he said that UNAMID peacekeepers verified reports, assessed civilian protection needs and disposed of unexploded ordnance. A UNAMID patrol ascertained that 750 people were displaced in the fighting.

Also after the reporting period, he said that leaders in the Hamadiya Camp of Central Darfur, many of whom support the nonsignatory movement Sudan Liberation Army / Abdul Wahid, had refused to allow Government authorities access to the camp to investigate the 8 July killings of armed men in the camp and subsequent abductions. UNAMID engaged in the effort to deter further violence. Finally, he said UNAMID had dispatched a team to an area in East Darfur where tribal land disputes had resulted in 60 reported deaths.

Taking the floor next, Sudanese representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman pointed to the progress noted by the Secretary-General’s report in implementation of the Doha Document, despite the Government’s austerity measures, and affirmed that the Government is still making all necessary efforts to fund the Darfur Regional Authority. Mr. Osman noted that decrees had established the follow-up office at the highest level with enhanced staffing, and that nonsignatory movements are being contacted, workshops are being held in an inclusive manner clear of intimidation and an agreement has been made on a new timetable for implementation.

All of that indicates much serious work towards peace, he said, which should be reflected in the coming Security Council resolution to extend UNAMID’s mandate, in order to encourage all the parties to meet all expectations. However, he added that the resolution’s draft text did not reflect the progress, but instead stressed “serious delays in implementation.”

Mr. Osman said that the resolution’s text should also include more robust and binding language vis-à-vis the movements that refuse to join the peace process and who had declared, under the name of the Revolutionary Front, that their goal is to overthrow the Government.

Citing the report’s statistics on the voluntary return of displaced persons, he said it showed increasing stability, another positive development, and that the international community should extend the necessary support for those returnees. He noted that assessments and preliminary meetings for that purpose had indeed been held.

In relation to the freedom of movement of UNAMID discussed in the report, he said increased patrols were evidence of the ability of the Mission to move through “every corner of Darfur.” He pointed out that Mr. Gambari himself accompanied a helicopter patrol over major cities in the region.

He finally presented an argument maintaining that the problem of the Lord’s Resistance Army, which Sudan has condemned and indicated it would fight against, should not be considered in connection with Darfur. Expanding UNAMID’s mandate to cover that issue through the coming resolution would be an impediment to cooperation and the peace process, he warned.

Source: UN Department of Public Information, News and Media Division