Many observers hold that the crisis in Darfur is heading for settlement, especially after the signing of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, which was blessed by almost all Darfuris including refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Regional Darfur Authority has recently engaged in communications with non-signatory armed movements, native administrations, community leaders and civil society organizations to reach a radical solution for a 10-year old crisis in the region. The Darfur Authority’s efforts culminated in the signing of a memo of understanding with Darfur Popular Council for Dialogue, Unity and Reconciliation, aimed at unifying national ranks, supporting peace and stability in Darfur. 

 

Parties to the Doha document signed it believing in the importance of resolving outstanding issues and national coherence. The document provides necessity for national unity in support of security, peace, stability and promoting of culture of dialogue and peaceful coexistence among different components of Darfur community to promote national reconciliation, inculcate its values, and contribute to supporting security, peace, stability, development, justice, and cooperate with parties to implement the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur on the ground.  The agreement aims for cooperation to rally political, financial and spiritual support and maximum use of the potentials of youth, women and civil society organizations to contribute to the voluntary return of internal displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their former homes through creative suitable and attractive environment for their comeback to about day-to-day activities.

 The agreements called for need to reintegrate IDPs and refugees into the community through projects that will help them resettle; necessity for communication with non-signatories and spreading of peace culture benefiting from cultural heritage in Darfur in favor of serving security, peace, unity, stability and development in the region. 

The door is open to all

The chairman of Darfur regional Authority Dr Al-Tijani Al-Sisi said the door remains open to all armed movement, native administrations and civil society organization to join efforts to peace in Darfur, especially the stakeholders. He described the document for peace as crucial for resolving the problem of Darfur, calling for speedy translations of words into actions on the ground. He called on partied concerned with peace in Darfur to support his Authority’s efforts to hold dialogue with all components of Darfur community including non-signatory factions to bring peace, security and stability to the region, especially for women who are bearing 70 percent of responsibilities in Darfur households. Sisi confirmed his full commitment to cooperation with Darfur youth and civil organizations in the interests of peace, security and stability across the region, whose achievement he said “only matter of time.”

Concerting official and popular efforts 

The deputy head of Darfur Reconciliation and Unity Commission Mohamed Eisa Eleo said the Doha Document placed premium importance on the issue of reconciliations across the region with framework of government’s agreement with armed movements. Therefore, the Commission is determined to engage all parties concerned in consultations in order to arrive at a radical and satisfactory settlement to a decade long crisis in the region. Mr Eleo stressed those steps toward peace in Darfur needs concerting popular and official efforts to help the Authority make its mission a success. 

Meanwhile, Mr Abdallah Khatir, expert in Darfur affairs, told Sudan Vision that the Darfur Regional Authority was keen on creative suitable climate for the components of the community to engage in dialogues, he deems important step for ultimate settlement to the problem in the region. Mr Khatir said that the time is ripe now more than ever before for achieving sustainable peace in Darfur manifested in unanimous agreement on desperately needed peace clear among the victims and the authority.  “After signing a memo of understanding with popular committees for reconciliation and dialogue, the Darfur is now before a huge challenge as to how carry through the agreement to reach national unity and democracy nationwide,” Mr Khatir said. He described the memo as a new opportunity to resuscitate chances for genuine peace in Darfur, but added that such a step needs to be followed by medial efforts to get it across to as many sectors as possible because it represents “one of political and social achievements in Sudan.” 

The aforementioned moves, efforts and remarks show necessity for dialogue among Darfuris as a sole way out of the crisis in the region. many hold that the fog that has lingered over the regions for ten years has begun to disappear now after all have become convinced and certain that there is no other remedy for their misery in the region rather than joining ranks and concerting efforts by all people of Darfur – irrespective of their political and social affiliations – to bring about lost peace and security in the region.

By Hana Abdul Hai