‘Taha pledges to strengthen and assist Darfur forces and displaced’: Sese

The First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha has reached an agreement with the head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Dr Tijani Sese “on arrangements and procedures to solve the tribal conflicts in Darfur”. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Taha, Sese said that they had agreed on the necessity to strengthen the Sudanese Armed Forces, the police and the Security Forces in the Darfur region. Dr Sese said that the need was discussed “to strengthen the mechanisms for re conciliation of tribal conflicts in Darfur.” He said that especially as enforcement of the “security arrangements” – whereby former rebel signatories of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) were ensured positions in government or the armed forces – will now be the responsibility of the DRA, Taha “has promised to support the budget of the security arrangements so that they can be implemented soon.Dr Sese is also head of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), a former rebel faction that signed the DDPD in 2011 with the Sudanese government. The pace of implementation of the Document’s provisions has been facing frequent criticism. In April the delays prompted Sese to threaten to suspend the LJM’s participation in the government. Dr Sese said he also raised the issue of the humanitarian situation of the newly displaced people in the camps around Nyala in South Darfur. He said that Taha also pledged to provide support from Khartoum via the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). Dr Sese said he “hoped to witness this happening.” Composite file photo: The First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha (left) and the head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Dr Tijani SeseRelated: Faction of LJM splits as former Darfur rebel soldiers ‘feel marginalised’ (7 June 2013)