EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, October 2, 2013 – More than 100 Darfuri tribal leaders from all tribes in North Darfur and the native administrations participated in a two–day conference to discuss the root causes of tribal conflicts in Darfur and to propose possible solutions for sustainable peaceful coexistence in the region.
The conference, sponsored by the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), took place in El Fasher, North Darfur, and concluded on 1 October.
“I believe that Darfur is rich both above the ground and under the ground, it is rich above the ground through its human resources – all of you, the great intellectuals and technocrats with wisdom and skills to meet all the needs of Darfur,” said Ms. Retta Reddy, Head of UNAMID’s Civil Affairs Section in her opening remarks.
Ms. Reddy added that, to resolve the root causes of the conflict in an inclusive manner, Darfur needs the sound management of its resources to ensure that all people of the region benefit in an equitable manner from the available natural resources.
The head of Darfur Regional Authority Legislative Council, Sultan Saad Bahr-Eldein, said that this conference is a step forward towards solving tribal conflicts in Darfur. “The Darfur Regional Authority Council would like to assure that will carry out its tasks on endorsing laws and legislations that help all the people of Darfur in organizing their lands, routes and animal pastures,” he stated.
The participants recommended setting up clear rules on the management of land and natural resources; reform of the rural courts; investment in livestock and nomad’s resettlement; inclusion of land usage in Sudan’s constitution; full implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur; and provision of capacity building for the displaced youth.
This event was the second in a series of conferences that UNAMID’s Civil Affairs section intends to organize in the five states of Darfur to find a way out of the tribal conflicts in the area.