‘Darfur referendum will tear unity apart’: Former Minister

The referendum on the administrative status in the Darfur region this April will lead to fragmentation and deepen the division of the public opinion, says former Sudanese Minister Dr Yousif Takana.

“The social fabric in Darfur has collapsed because of conflicts that were sparked by the Sudanese regime,” Takana, an expert in local governance affairs and former Minister of International Cooperation told Radio Dabanga on Thursday.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, signed in 2011 between the Sudanese government and former rebel movements, has not achieved the anticipated security and stability in the region, Takana said. “The referendum is futile and aims to divert attention from the basic issues in Darfur.

“The Sudanese government aims to tear the unity of the Darfuri society apart, and ignite sedition to pass its agenda.” He added that Khartoum will not able to achieve this completely. “The opposite will happen, because the province was historically known to be united geographically, historically and socially, instead of divided in states.”

Takana warned the government of the consequences of the possible impact of its “scheme”. People in Darfur are able to vote on the permanent status of the region from 11 to 13 April: returning Darfur to one administrative unit or continue with the five states.

Darfuris living in the camps for the displaced, Sudanese opposition parties, and civil society activists earlier expressed their grave concerns about holding the referendum in the current circumstances.

The National Umma Party and Sudanese Communist Party have joined the call on the people in Darfur to mobilise and boycott the administrative referendum in their region through a nationwide popular campaign. In a press statement on Sunday 14 February, the Sudanese opposition parties allied in the National Consensus Forces (NCF) also announced its rejection of the referendum.

Doha peace agreement

The referendum was supposed to be held within one year after the signing of the peace accord in 2011. “The Doha Document prioritises the restoration of the security situation, through the implementation of the security arrangements and the disarmament of the non-military in the region. However, the disarmament has never taken place,” a Darfuri human rights lawyer told Radio Dabanga in October.