50 elected to represent Darfur displaced in Juba

The Conference for the Unification of Visions of Displaced Persons in the North Darfur capital of El Fasher concluded its work on Thursday with the election of 50 representatives to participate in the platform of the displaced in Juba.

The conference discussed security issues, the new settlers, and the voluntary return of the displaced to their villages. Those elected are to leave for Juba within a week.

Thursday’s conference aimed to come out with a unified vison for Darfur displaced over participation in the peace talks taking place in Juba between the transitional government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front-Darfur Track.

The acting Wali (governor) of North Darfur, Maj Gen Malik El Tayeb Khojali on behalf of the Walis of the five Darfur States, stressed that achievement of a comprehensive and sustainable peace remains the transitional government’s top priority, referring to efforts being exerted by governments of Darfur to push the peace process in areas of services, security, and repatriation of refugees to promote peace, security and stability in Darfur.

According to reports by the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), Khojali renewed the support of his government and the governments of Darfur states for the ongoing Juba peace talks , saying “it represents the sole venue for achievement of sustainable peace in the country, safe return of displaced people to their areas , provision of services and effecting development”.

He urged the conferees to unify efforts, vison, and views as well as selection of representatives to engage them in the peace talks.

The Director of El Fasher University’s Centre for Peace, Development and Human Rights Studies, Dr Assir Abdulrafe, who addressed the opening sitting, said the sole way for preventing displacement is ending the wars and raising people’s awareness International Humanitarian Law.

Leading figure at the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and Member of the Joint Committee between the transitional Government and the Revolutionary Front, Saifeddin Abdelmula, said the conference came as implementation to Darfur’s Humanitarian Work Protocol signed on 23 December which called for engagement of displaced people in the peace process.

He outlined efforts made by the Joint Committee within the last two weeks and disclosed that the Committee has visited the all 174 camps and groupings of Darfur and that the Committee has overseen selection of 200 members from these camps and groupings for the El Fasher conference which, in turn , he added, would choose 50 representatives for the negotiations.

After the opening session the participants divided into working groups for preparing a working paper reflecting vision of Darfur IDPs over the peace process as well as selection of their representatives for the peace negotiation.

Sudanese refugees in Chad held a consultative conference Thursday in the Chadian city of Abeche to choose representatives to participate in the Juba negotiations. Refugees representing 13 camps in Chad have chosen 40 representatives to participate in the Juba negotiations, and Unamid will sponsor their transport to Juba within a week.

(Sources: RD/SUNA)