On 30 and 31 October, more than 100 participants from across North Darfur State took part in a two–day conference to evaluate and assess the peace process in Darfur within the framework of the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

The forum, jointly organized by the North Darfur Civil Society Follow-up Mechanism on Strategic Planning and the African Union- United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), brought together in El Fasher, North Darfur, native administration representatives, women and youth groups, non–governmental organizations, technocrats, community leaders, internally displaced persons and members of political parties.

In his opening remarks, UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative, Joseph Mutaboba, highlighted the importance of the event. “I believe that through group discussions and brainstorming, the participants will be able to propose a set of recommendations for better DDPD implementation whose success depends on a stronger and enhanced civil society in Darfur,” he said.

“We aim to build on the success of the Doha I and II Civil Society Conferences, which contributed immensely in the content and the popular acceptance of the Doha outcome documents and the peace agreement,” added Mr. Mutaboba.

The Head of the Darfur Regional Authority Council, Sultan Saad Bahr-Eldein, said that “This conference emphasizes that Darfur civil society has become a key player and partner in the DDPD implementation. We, in the Darfur Regional Authority, believe that peace has been prevailed in many parts of Darfur.”

The participants recommended strengthening the civil administration; the provision of effective roads, bridges and other infrastructure that will help in a timely transportation of goods from production to consumption areas; addressing the youth’s concerns including unemployment, lack of training and drug abuse; the fully implementation of the DDPD and its inclusion in the Constitution of Sudan; the eradication of extreme poverty; as well as the empowerment of civil society’s role to raise awareness on peace and reconciliation among the Darfuri people.

UNAMID is mandated to facilitate dialogue between interest groups and stakeholders, to undertake and support the efforts of the Government, native administration and civil society groups seeking peace and reconciliation, and to strengthen the conditions and structures for a conducive environment to sustainable peace in Darfur.