‘US$300m, compensation amount for Darfur refugees’

Tijani Sese says refugees participating in the voluntary return program will receive additional US$250 to facilitate movingThe Doha Peace Agreement (DPA) provides US$300 million as total compensation amount to all Darfuri refugees, Tijani Sese, head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) told Radio Dabanga on Saturday.Sese confirmed that a sum of US$250 will be provided to each displaced Darfuri family which wants to avail the voluntary return program. Sese clarified that this amount wasn’t the compensation amount and was merely meant to facilitate the return of families.“The compensation amount will be provided to all those who have been displaced because of war. This compensation will be provided according to legal committees who will file the losses incurred by the displaced persons. Finally, a commission of voluntary return will take the decision,” Sese told Radio Dabanga.He added that the commission of voluntary return will further be divided into three branches – the commission of return, compensation fund and repatriation. These commissions will also include refugees.The commission of voluntary return is likely to begin communication and coordination with the committees and the leaders of the refugees in their camps as soon as they are annouced.“I would like to call upon the refugees to organize their ranks to prepare for this task. The period to apply for the compensation will last for ten years from the day of the announcement of the DRA and the commissions,” he said.Sese also appealed to the international community and stakeholders at regional and local levels to contribute to the compensation fund of the voluntary return program.’Justice before reconciliation’On the other hand, Sese stressed on the importance of achieving justice in Darfur before moving towards reconciliation, while taking note of the crimes committed in the region.However, he added, “We should look at what happened in South Africa with the Truth and Reconciliation commission. We should follow in their footstep. Justice and reconciliation go hand in hand.”Sese said that the DPA signed between the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) provides for the establishment of special courts in Darfur which will look into the crimes committed in the region.The courts will be supervised by international experts from the United Nations and the African Union. “Consultations are still underway for the announcement of the DRA and its agencies. It is expected to complete by the end of this month or beginning of next month,” Sese said.