Last week I visited El Fasher with my Ambassadorial colleagues from the European Union. It was my second visit to Darfur since I arrived in Sudan nearly three months ago: I visited Nyala a few weeks ago in the same period staff from this embassy visited all of the 5 state capitals.
Why the focus on Darfur?
It’s partly because Darfur still looms very large in images of Sudan in the UK. There has been much improvement since the terrible events of 2003-5. But it is still a region of great poverty, displacement of peoples and of conflict. It needs and deserves the attention of governments, both that of Sudan and those of the international community to help heal the wounds, rebuild communities, put in place effective governance and release Darfur’s significant economic potential.
So what are we doing?
First of all, we are providing direct assistance to those who need it most: providing millions of people in the camps and elsewhere with the basic necessities of survival: nutrition, water, health care.
But we also want to support the creation of an environment in which people feel secure enough to choose where they live or work, whether this means returning to their villages or staying in urban areas. This is what the deputy Walis in Nyala and El Fasher told me they wanted too. I visited several villages near Nyala, for example, where we are ensuring a reliable and accessible supply of clean water for both people and livestock. We are also looking at ways of facilitating the development of the private sector to give people ways of earning their own livelihoods. I had some interesting conversations with the Government and representatives of the business community in Nyala. We are now taking forward, with them, some ideas.
Clearly there can be no return to normality in Darfur without ensuring basic security for those who live there. We are contributing to this in several ways. Most obviously, we support the biggest UN-AU mission in the world, UNAMID both politically and financially. I visited the UNAMID HQs in both Nyala and El Fasher and they provided the security for my visits. They work in a difficult environment (one of the patrols was ambushed and a soldier killed on the day I was in El Fasher) trying to ensure the protection of ordinary people in Darfur.
We also work at grass roots level. The purpose of the water projects I mentioned is not just to supply water to villagers, although that is clearly very important. It’s also to help local communities to re-learn how to manage resources in an equitable way ensuring the benefits go to all and that tensions between the different requirements of, for example, nomadic and settled communities are managed away.
In the end though none of this will achieve lasting impact without an overarching political settlement. The current blueprint for that is the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur signed by the Government and representatives of the Liberation and Justice Movement in July 2011. We are members of the Implementation Follow-Up Committee (IFC) to the DDPD, whose role is to support and oversee implementation of the Agreement.
We welcome the news that the Government of Sudan and a faction of the Justice and Equality Movement have signed a new declaration affirming their commitment to the peace process and an immediate cessation of hostilities. I urge the other rebel movements to support the Agreement and resist impeding its implementation. I also hope that the agreements signed in Addis between Sudan and South Sudan will have an impact on peace and stability in Darfur.
Of course it is for the signatories to implement the agreement. And implementation is behind schedule meaning the people of Darfur have yet to see tangible improvements to their lives. This is partly because of a lack of finances. But many changes can be made by the signatories without significant financial commitments, whether it is in the field of Justice and Reconciliation or Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. We will continue to support the DDPD, and want the Doha Donor Conference to be a success but we as the UK can’t deliver these big changes needed for a lasting peace.
Since my arrival I have been told by many – whether Government officials, UN workers, other embassies or International NGOs- that the International Community has forgotten about Darfur. I hope I have demonstrated that this is categorically not the case as far as the UK is concerned.
That is great deed and well done now we have to say thankyou for great britain and his embassador.
Couple of words to Bashir’s representative, Mr. Khalid AlMubarak :
Irrespective of the disappointing role of the current international community, we the Sudanese people are grateful for the (West), because they have fairly decided who is the real (terrorist), when they indicted Bashir and his bloody circle (Haroun . Husaain and Koshaib) as (ICC) prime suspects for genocide and war criminals, this is on one hand, on the other hand, it’s really nasty and disgusting to call Darfur rebels as (remnants) and (highway robbers), simply because no highway robber can destroy a well armed military convoy of more than 120 different Military vehicles, let us not cheat ourselves and others, let us seriously address, not Darfur but the whole Sudan crisis. As regards to the West’s strategic partner (Israel) , Israel has no interests to support highway robbers to do his job in Darfur , Israel is doing his (business) efficiently with its own self and with his ( long arms) , without any help from the (highway robbers ) .
Khalid, please stop telling naive stories
Mohamed Basheer Abunommo
London
Thanks Mr. Ambassador
You are seeing things quite differently from the realities on the ground; this is besides you are supporting a government of Bashir against the will of its own people, a government whose head is indicted by the (ICC) as everyone knows. But why the president is indicted? Simply because he committed horrible crimes against his own people, the people whom he supposed to protect them! Unfortunately Britain is not alone, the so called the International Community is on the same track! But sorry to observe that you are particularly saying ridiculous statements, like (There has been much improvement since the terrible events of 2003-5 …..). You are saying this, and at this very moment (9/11/2012) there is a military statement by the (SRF) on websites that they have completely destroyed a military convoy of about 120 cars and trucks with all their arms and supplies in Darfur , the same region where you have just finished your trip , this is in addition to the massacre that committed by government forces before one week ago in the same area , with civilian victims of 13 people , an incident that very hot these days . this later military convoy was on its way from Neyala to Alfashir . Mr. Ambassador, no reasonable person in this world, let alone democratic governments, who supports a ruler, along with several senior assistants indicted by a so respected international justice organization like International Criminal Court .
Mr. Asmbassdor, shame on you!
Mohamed Bashir Abunommo
London
Dear Sir
Darfur is mponumental problem, area , as well as diversity.the most urgnt
matter is real security structures. Darfur has suffered from this since the ealy 70s This may well enable the International Comunity to support an
internal reconcelliantion process It will help alot for the people to feel save
and return to start a fresh May I wish them all the best
Ahmed Abu Sinn
Thak you Mr.Ambaador for the efforts you and your other colleagues from Europe and America are doing to help the peopole of Darfur and other parts of conflict areas in Sudan.However these efforts will not bring an end to the woes of Sudan.I believe the only to bring a lasting and true CPA in Sudan by bringing all parties(g0vernment and ALL opposition parties together in KHARTOUM to sit and reach an agreement. If you(i.e.the international community) can bring this to happen then you will have peace in Sudan. Otherwise Sudan will remain a problem to the international community for years to come before it finally disintigrate into many pieces.So to me the choice is peace or pieces.What is the choice of the international community?
سعادة السفير لل الشكر والتقدير على هذا الجهد المقدر اري ومن الضروري ايضاً وجود النسخة العربية في الموقع
وشكراً
إراهيم ادريس
المستشار السياسي
السفارة الارترية
Thanks for your efforts which are much appreciated. There are questions that need discussion.
1- Why are the remnants of Darfur rebels(who are now mostly highway robbers) not called “terrorists”? Is it because the West’s strategic partner that has opened offices for these groups in Tel Aviv would like them to move freely and continue to spoil peace and stability (and provide a pretext for continued US sanctions)?In London ,one of the Israeli lobby’s front organisations(Aegis Trust—-which wears the mask of genocide prevention)has actually issued a leaflet to mobilise Darfuri and other groups to demonstrate on 30 June 12..The incitement led to an attempt to set fire to the Sudanese Embassy.The matter is now a police case and we have confidence in the fairness and procedures of the British Police.
2- I hope that the Implementation and follow -up Committee will be more robust than the disappointing Assessmaent and Evaluation Commission that was passive in the face of massive transgressions leading to today’s position in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
The SAForces withdrew from the South while two SPLA divisions were not demilitarised and retrained for for civilian life .Let us hope that the 27th September Addis Ababa Cooperation Agreement signed by the two presidents will create a new dynamic that can help to rectify this politically.
3-The Israeli attack that destroyed Alyarmouk factory three days ago is intended,among other things,to encourage Darfuri and other rebels who hope to reignite the conflict between Khartoum and Juba.
This is counter to the” I. and Follow-Up Commitee’s” role and counter to the policy of support for the Darfur Regional Authority demonstrated by your visit. There are two policies not one.The far-right Israeli ruling coalition has nothing in common with the West’s democratic valures or traditions.That’s why it pushes policies in Darfur that are the opposite of Western intentions and practice.
Mr ambassador, thank you for all the efforts in making Darfur a better place… However, there are lots of questions about how to deal with the scars left by the atrocities committed there almost 10 years ago. Is the UK involved in the process of persuading Khartoum to bring the perpetrators to justice? … This can play a major role in helping those still stuck in refugee camps around Niyala and El Fasher to move on with their lives
Hope that to see real peace in darfur aswell as in different parts of sudan , so the sound of uk ambassdor is very kind , hope well be perfect
الشكر كل الشكر للحكومة البريطانية ولاعضاء السفارة البريطانية في الخرطوم لمجهوداتها الجبارة لبسط الامن والطمأنينة في وسط المواطنين في دارفور وهذا ان دل إنما يدل علي سعي الحكومة البريطانية لحل النزاع القائم في الإقليم ومن هنا نطالبكم وكافة المجتمع الدولي لتامين معسكرات النازحين من أبناء شعبنا من همج الحكومة السودانية ومليشياتها الموالية التي تسعي لزعزعة الأمن والاستقرار ونشر الفوضي ونشكو لكم من ضعف أداء قوات البعثة المشتركة في حماية النازحين والتفكك المريع في أداء واجبه وانصرافه وانشغاله بقضايا أخري وشكرا