Sudan politician at Dabanga studio: challenges for Doha document on Darfur

The Chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) named several challenges that he believes stand in the way for the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) during his visit to the studio of Radio Dabanga in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.   In an interview on Thursday evening, Dr. Tijani Sese said the first challenge for the DDPD’s successful implementation is the lack of financial means for the provision of basic services in Darfur. These services include electricity, water, care, roads, education, and clean water.Secondly, clashes led by ethnic and tribal polarization give the general impression that Darfur is not safe, he said. A third challenge, according to Sese, is the support of South Sudan to the non-signatory movements of the Doha document, noting these groups cause disturbances in Darfur.According to the chairman, the proliferation of militias and weapons in Darfur, added to the challenge of colleting arms in the region represents a fourth obstacle. In the interview, he demanded the government to restructure militias in Darfur, integrate them into the regular Sudanese armed forces and stop with “ethnic recruitment”. “How can weapons of certain groups be collected in Darfur if at the same time other factions, such as the non-signatories, are raising their guns against the government?”, Sese questioned. To solve this problem, he continued, non-signatory movements “should join the peace”, and when that happens the existence of others would “no longer be justified”. 6 billion USD The chairman of the DRA concluded on Friday a tour around Europe in which he visited Germany, France and the Netherlands. The trip was part of the preparations for the donors’ conference on Darfur scheduled for next month in Doha, Qatar. During his visit to the studio of Radio Dabanga, Sese said the countries he has toured to agreed to participate in the donors’ conference. Prior to this travels around Europe, the politician went to China, Japan, Korea, Spain, Italy, and to the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels. He estimates that six billion dollars would be necessary for development and reconstruction projects in Darfur and considers the States he has been to so far would be able to cover the amount.    On 18 and 19 March, Sese will be in the United States, namely in Washington and in New York, where he will meet UN officials. After that the chairman will travel to London in the United Kingdom, he disclosed. Commitment Radio Dabanga asked the chairman about the obligation of donors to fulfill their pledges when taking part of the upcoming Doha conference. Sese admitted that based on his international experience many parties do not carry out their commitments, but several others, such as Kuwait did in the past, do. This country sponsored the International Donors and Investors Conference for East Sudan in 2010 within its own territory, Sese recalled. The head of DRA was further questioned about the contribution of donor countries to the Doha conference considering war in Darfur is still ongoing and the implementation of the DDPD is delayed. “Officials I met in my trip agreed to join the conference and contribute to it, as they believe this is the time to do rebuild and develop Darfur”, he was quoted as saying, adding the problem in the region is development.   Sese also pointed to the necessity that a strong mechanism to collect the financial pledges of participants be built. He stressed the funds would be administered in a transparent manner established by the donors themselves.Photo: Dr. Tijani Sese (Radio Dabanga file)