Exclusive: Unamid head pleads for ‘lasting peace in Darfur’

In an exclusive telephone interview with Radio Dabanga from his headquarters in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, the Joint Special Representative of Unamid, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has called on all parties to cease hostilities and sue for peace. He called on all stakeholders, including non-signatories, “to try to accommodate one another within the framework of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), and come to the negotiating table to find a lasting peace in Darfur”. Chambas acknowledged the deteriorating security situation in the region, describing it as “more volatile and unpredictable”, pledging that “we will do our level best, because this is one of our core mandates, to provide protection for civilians”. He underscored that standing orders to Unamid peacekeepers are to defend themselves “aggressively and robustly” if attacked, which represents “a new stance”. Arusha In the interview, Chambas was asked about “the way forward” following his recent discussions with several leaders of the Sudanese rebel movements in Arusha, Tanzania. “The meeting in Arusha was my first substantive one with the leaders of the non-signatory movements from Darfur,” he said. “It was an opportunity to discuss and for me to understand exactly their position on the current situation in Darfur – the security challenges we face there, the humanitarian challenges and the peace process. “For me as mediator, it is important that I meet the leaders of the non-signatory movements. Arusha was a good opportunity for me to have done that.” Approach On the subject of a “holistic versus regional” approach to a solution for peace, Chambas expressed a hope to engage the non-signatory movements. Chambas: “Arusha was important to establish the contact and be able to exchange views and perspectives… A lot has been invested by the international community, the African Union, United Nations, including of course the state of Qatar in the Doha peace process and especially the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), and more recently, in the Darfur development charters. “One is not arguing that the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur is cast in iron. Of course there can be some suggestions on how to improve the process, however this is what the international community has endorsed as the as the document for peace. But we would be very pleased to engage the non-signatory movements, those who have not been part of Doha, and to see what specific suggestions they have and we will try to accommodate their legitimate concerns.” Way forward In terms of the “way forward” following the Arusha talks, Chambas said: “I believe there is a way forward because we undertook to remain in constant contact. I myself have been engaged in the consultations. I did inform the movements that after Arusha, I will consult and brief the AU and the UN and the other stakeholders, the government of Sudan and indeed Qatar which has invested a lot in the search for peace.” Chambas refuted comments from the head of the Darfur Regional Authority, Dr Tijani Sese, who is on record as saying that that Arusha “neglected the Doha Document”, and the head of Sudan’s Darfur Peace Follow-Up, Dr Amin Hassan Omar, who said he did not recognise any forum other than the Doha forum to solve the crisis of Darfur. Chambas: “The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur was not neglected in our discussions. There was a full presentation of the Document, to explain the content of it, explain what it seeks to do, and to examine ways of which it can be if interest in order to move forward.” Attacks Referring to the recent spate of attacks on Unamid peacekeepers in Darfur, Chambas said that “as Unamid is operating under Chapter 7 of the UN Security Council mandate, the peacekeepers have been given clear instructions that when they are attacked, they need to respond; they need to defend themselves. “They need to be very robust and very aggressive in defending themselves. I am very happy that in the three recent attacks, that is exactly what they have done.” Security Commenting on the security situation in Darfur, especially attacks, robberies, rapes, and assaults on displaced persons by armed groups, Chambas acknowledged the challenges: “For months, certainly from late 2012 till now, it is obvious that the security situation in Darfur has deteriorated. It has become more volatile and more unpredictable. The reasons include continuing clashes between the armed movements and government forces. Also especially now because of the interethnic fighting which has escalated and spread to North Darfur, Central Darfur, all over Darfur. We are also witnessing a lot of criminality and banditry.” Solidarity Chambas underlined that “Unamid is a show of solidarity from the international community for the people of Darfur. It is there to come and help, to provide protection for the civilian population, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian support, and to entrench the human rights and the civil rights of the population of Darfur. We call for the cooperation of all sides with Unamid which is there as a friendly force. We sympathise with the people of Darfur; we are doing our best to help them in the very difficult circumstances under which they live.” In conclusion, via Radio Dabanga, Chambas pleaded “for lasting peace, which can come from political negotiations, not through war”. Click here to read a full transcript of the interview. File photo: El Fasher, 29 May 2013 – The Joint Special Representative of Unamid, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, inspects a parade during the commemoration of the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers at the Unamid headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid)