Students debate solutions towards sustaining peace in Darfur

On Thursday 300 students at El Fasher university in North Darfur debated whether the conflict in Darfur required a political or economic solution. The majority of students attending voted with the political solution, but some saw that both paths together were needed for a sustainable peace. The annual debate was attended by the State’s governor Osman Yousif Kibir, and the head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Ibrahim Gambari. The UNAMID chief said, ‘Education is critical to peace, and it is fully addressed in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. You students are the hope and the future of Darfur. Your constructive engagement will be key in advancing and consolidating the efforts for peace.’ Gambari urged the students to familiarise themselves with the Doha document which is currently under implementation in Darfur and the subject of dozens of community workshops across the region. He said ‘the parties (to the agreement) must continue their efforts and increase the pace to bring the tangible dividends of peace to all Darfuris. But this needs to happen soon.’