Darfur delegates ratify Reconciliation Agreement

At a ceremony in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, delegates of the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes officially signed a Reconciliation Agreement on Saturday, aimed at ending months of hostilities between them. The signing was attended by First Vice President of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Chairman Dr Tijani Sese, and Sudan’s Chief of Security Mahomed Atta, and ratifies an agreement reached on Thursday afternoon under the auspices of North Darfur Governor, Osman Kibir. More than 20 people from each tribe signed the initial treaty on Thursday, including the field commanders (Hakim Dar) and local administrators and legislators of the local administration, with 350 representatives of the legislative administration from both sides present. Governor Kibir hailed the agreement “a historic moment,” pointing out that “the interests of both parties are represented in the treaty”. Earlier this year, the two tribes clashed violently over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality, leaving about 500 people dead and more than 100,000 displaced, according to UN estimates. Since then, sporadic clashes between the tribesmen have often given rise to concerns for the peace process. “The signing was by mutual consent and without any limitations or conditions on either side. The treaty stipulates that roads will be reopened immediately to the nomads (Masarat) and displaced persons will return home,” Hamed Mohamed representative of the Abbala and Omda of Saraf Omra locality said in an interview with Radio Dabanga this week.One of the stipulations of the treaty, however, is that both tribes must completely withdraw from the Jebel ‘Amer mine and cede control to the government. First Vice President Taha At the signing ceremony on Saturday, First Vice President Taha said that President Omar Al Bashir “is personally leading efforts on realisation of peace and stability in the country”, explaining that “the President is working out a comprehensive vision on finding radical solutions to Sudan’s problems and addressing causes of conflict in Darfur”. Taha called on the people of Darfur to “move from the stage of war and fighting to stage of peace and security”, demanding “the government cultural and social institutions give more concern to stability and peace programmes”. The VP held the parties to the Reconciliation Agreement “accountable for maintaining stability” and urged “all sons and youth of Darfur to come together to fight enemies of Sudan”, expressing his hope that by signing the Reconciliation Agreement, “peace and stability will prevail all Darfur States”. DRA Chairman Tijani Sese After the signing, DRA Chairman Tijani Sese reiterated his call for the Armed Forces, police and security forces to “impose State rule in Darfur States”. “Absence of the State authorities leads to fighting,” Dr Sese said, underlining the DRA support for the agreement. He called on “sons of Darfur to think on the dire consequences of tribal fighting which left many women and children dead”. Sese also urged “Darfur intellectuals not to use the suffering of the people of Darfur to achieve personal goals”. He said that the DRA intends to organise six conferences on lands, pastures and disputes. Photo series by Albert González Farran/Unamid First Vice President of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha (pinstripe jacket) and Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Chairman Dr Tijani Sese (blue shirt) preside over the signing of the historic Reconciliation Agreement between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes in El Fasher on Saturday.The hall of delegatesRelated: ‘Historic moment’ as Abbala, Beni Halba sign treaty in North Darfur: Kibir (25 July 2013)Abbala tribe ultimatum to Sudan government: Intervene or we’re out (25 June 2013)New Beni Hussein – Abbala violence in North Darfur (23 June 2013)Report: North Darfur gold mine conflicts not inter-tribal; Sudan regime behind them (14 May 2013)