Mediators arrive in Darfur for peace consultations

The international mediation team for the Darfur conflict arrived in El Fasher yesterday. Their visit aims at drumming up support for the lagging Doha peace process.The African Union and United Nations are represented by the Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé. The mediation team also comprises Qatari officials led by Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud. The mediators were met on arrival in El Fasher by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari. They proceeded to the University of El Fasher where they held a forum with local community leaders.

“The mediation team delivered a briefing on progress made in the peace process and listened to participants in order to compile opinions on the way forward for the conflict in Darfur,” stated the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur in a press briefing. According to sources at the meeting, the joint mediation pledged that peace should be comprehensive and enjoy popular support. Joint Mediator Djibril Bassole said that the mediation aim to rely on civil society to get armed movements to negotiate and stop the war. The delegation refused to talk about justice, according to displaced people.

Bassolé and Al Mahmoud will hold additional forums in Nyala, El Geneina and Zalingei, over the next three days, according to UNAMID. They will consult with local authorities, representatives of civil society and nomadic communities, and leaders of internally displaced persons.

Photo: AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibrill Bassolé (second from left), Qatari Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud (third from left), Acting Wali of North Darfur Al Fateh Abdalaziz Abdalnabi, UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari. El Fasher, 28 November 2010. (Photo Credit: UNAMID / Albert Gonzalez Farran)