‘Um Jaras Forum to offer effective solutions for Darfur’: Chad President

The Second Um Jaras Forum for Peace, Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in Darfur began on Wednesday in Um Jaras, eastern Chad. The Forum is hosted by Chad’s President,  Idris Deby. African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative (JSR) for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and Sudanese Second Vice-President Hassabo Mohamed Abdel Rahman attended the opening. President Omer Al Bashir will travel to Um Jaras at the end of the week to address the concluding session on Sunday. During the opening session, President Deby expressed the hope that the Second Um Jaras Forum will produce tangible results for the achievement of peace and security in the region. “I ​​pledge to do all I can to push the peace process in Darfur.” He explained that the forum was established with the aim to find effective solutions to the problem of Darfur, to build consensus in convincing the rebel movements to join the peace process, and to promote peaceful coexistence between the various tribes in Darfur, and the Sudanese-Chadian border tribes. “More than 56 tribes are currently participating in the activities of the Um Jaras Forum. Deby urged the armed movements in Darfur to join the peace process, and to participate in the reconstruction and development of Darfur. “The Darfur rebellion did not earn anything, apart from destruction and insecurity.” “The cessation of the war will contribute to the exploitation of the resources in Darfur. The wealth of Darfur will benefit the whole region.” The Chadian President called therefore upon the people of Darfur to “put all their efforts in halting the fighting”. He stressed that Chad does not have an agenda in Darfur. “Chad is keen to support the efforts of the political processes in the region, as the people of the two countries are relatives and neighbours.” ‘Ugly blemish’ Unamid chief, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, emphasised the need for all the parties in Darfur to commit to dialogue without preconditions. “There is imperative need to recognise that after ten years of fighting and attendant bloodshed in Darfur, nobody has emerged victorious,” he said, according to a Unamid press release issued on Wednesday. Ibn Chambas stressed that promises to talk cannot inspire confidence if at the same time fighting continues and intensifies. “The ongoing attacks on civilian villages and camps for internally displaced people, alleged to be carried out by the Rapid Support Forces, are a matter of concern and an ugly blemish on our efforts to dialogue; regardless of who is ultimately responsible for this violence, it must now stop,” he said, adding that it is the main cause of displacement of about 200,000 civilians in Darfur in the past month alone. “Also, the military attacks of the rebel movements must stop; they have proven incapable of defeating Sudan Armed Forces and only increase the suffering of the people of Darfur,” he continued. “Similarly, we must do all within our means to end the inter-tribal clashes, which caused a displacement of more than 400,000 people in 2013.” Accomplice The first Um Jaras Forum took place late October 2013. On the invitation of Chadian President Idris Deby, Dr Tijani Sese, chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority, attended, as well as Dr Amin Hassan Omar, the head of the governmental Darfur Peace Follow-up Office, other members of the Sudanese government, and a number of prominent leaders of the Zaghawa tribe.At this Forum, Deby allegedly announced his intention “to launch a fierce war on the non-signatory armed movements to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur”. In response, the armed rebel movements appealed to the UN Security Council and the African Union to condemn “this clear interference in the affairs of Sudan”, accusing Deby of being involved in “the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Darfur”. They called upon the International Criminal Court to investigate the role of the Chadian President in the war in Darfur, stating that he is “an accomplice of Al Bashir”. President Idris Deby belongs to the Zaghawa Bidyat clan. File photo: Chadian President Idris Deby (SUNA) Related: Sudan President to attend Um Jaras forum in Chad (24 March 2014) Sudanese opposition slate Al Bashir speech (28 January 2014) Chad President concludes two-day visit to Sudan (24 December 2013) Sudanese Justice Minister defends Um Jaras Forum (27 November 2013) Chad President ‘interfering in Sudanese affairs’: Rebels (4 November 2013)