Darfur Infrastructure & Reconstruction Minister on Current Regional Issues
25 August, 2014
KHARTOUM (SUDANOW)—The Infrastructure and Reconstruction in Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Minister-cum-Head of the Political Sector of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), Ustaz Taj al-Deen Bashir Niyam, has denied to SUDANOW the existence of any form of disagreement within the LJM, assessed the progress of Darfur Development Projects and expressed pessimism over success of the National Dialogue. Below are excerpts from the interview:
Q: The High Mechanism for Implementation of Um Jaras (a city in eastern Chad where a forum has been hosted by the Chadian President Idris Debi to offer solutions for Darfur problem) recommendations is entrusted with the task of communication with the armed movements on peace for Darfur. Does this mean that the mission of the prominent Darfurian businessman Wida’ah committee is over?
A: The first Um Jaras conference was concerned with the Zaghawah tribe and the second one which was held in eastern Chad and attended by the Sudanese and Chadian presidents and the Sudanese Vice President, dealt with issues of concern to all people of Darfur. The latter discussed a number of papers and adopted a number of recommendations and resolutions related to security and stability in Darfur region. In observance of his pledge, President Omer al-Bashir issued a Republican Decree on formation of a mechanism to be chaired by the First Vice President with the Vice President, the Darfur Regional Authority Chairman, the Minister of Justice and mediator Siddeik Wada’ah as his deputies.
Q: What are the tasks of this mechanism?
A: The Republican Decree defined the tasks of the mechanism as follows:
First: Follow-up and implementation of Um Jaras recommendations and resolutions and coordination of the different efforts and initiatives by the DRA, the government and some parties, institutions, organizations and individuals under the umbrella of this mechanism.
Second: Assisting and supporting the states for completing the reconciliations between the conflicting tribes and for implementing the tribal reconciliation recommendations.
Third: The mechanism contacts the non-signatory movement and urges them to join the peace process for reaching security and peace in Darfur.
Fourth: The mechanism forms branch committees in the states to back its efforts.
Q: Are there timetables for implementations of the tasks vested upon the mechanism?
A: The mechanism was commissioned last July and we agreed on its objectives and on distribution of its members into committees and on all initiatives and efforts being carried out within the mechanism. It was also agreed that the next meeting be held in Darfur and, in compliance with the Republican Decree, an executive office was formed for the 180-member mechanism, in addition to an executive committee formed under the presidency of the chairman of the mechanism, his deputies and the governors of the states. The executive office has been entrusted with handling the shortcomings and emergencies.
Q: Could you give us a briefing on the social peace conferences held in a number of Darfur states in preparation for an inclusive conference for social peace and peaceful coexistence in Darfur?
A: The DRA President has issued a decision for formation of a high committee for the social peace conference and we have agreed on organization of workshops in Darfur states to discuss important issues contained in three basic papers on tribal conflicts and reasons, land property and native administration and means for developing it. It was intended that discussions would be conducted at the levels of localities, opposition and pro-government political parties, women and youths of each state to drawing up recommendations to be submitted to the high committee for holding the social peace and peaceful coexistence conference.
A general conference will be held to consider the recommendations of the workshops which will then be binding to all people of Darfur. The first workshop was held in North Darfur and the fourth one was held in South Darfur but we could not hold a workshop in East Darfur due to the on-going tribal conflicts there. It was proposed to hold the latter in Khartoum but the DRA President, during inauguration of voluntary returns villages, instructed the high committee to go on holding the workshop in East Darfur with the foremost purpose of achieving peace and security in support of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and peaceful coexistence among the segments of the people of Darfur.
Q: Could you comment on reports of acute differences among the LJM ranks?
A: Acute differences do not exist but there are different viewpoints on a number of issues which were ironed out in a three-day meeting in Al-Fashir in the presence of LJM High Council and the LJM and DRA President. All those differences were resolved and a number of committees were formed to address the issues of controversy and to assess the performance of bodies and ministries of the DRA and the LJM and to complete implementation of the security arrangements. Therefore there were no acute disagreements within the Movement since that meeting of Al-Fashir. Of course there is a space for expression of opinions and for democratic exercise because we advocate a democratic system and dialogue and we are not upset by criticism. The critics are LJM members who are free to make constructive criticism which we accept. There are organizational regulations which govern the work of the Movement and the method of offering criticism. The Al-Fashir meeting was followed by a second one in Khartoum that reviewed detailed reports on the progress of implementation of the agreement. There is also a committee for assessment of DRA performance and another committee for following up implementation of the security arrangements in addition to a high committee to go through the reports. The latter committee was satisfied with the accomplishments and recommended completion of what has remained of the issues. Although there are disagreements here and there, the dialogue is an important exercise.
Q: There are reports on transition of the Movement into a political party for practicing politics within the civil institutions, but until now there is no sign of this while the time for elections is approaching. How do you explain this?
A: First, the election is a political issue and the decision on it is a political one and we are partners of the ruling party as well as partners in the political authority and institutions which decide on organization of the election. If the political parties presently taking part in the political dialogue reach agreement on holding the election, a presidential decree will be issued on this and the Election Commission will act accordingly. The Commission now takes technical preparations but is not authorized to organize the election as this is a political decision.
Second, we as an armed movement have signed a peace agreement and we are now working for implementation of the security arrangements, a process that has been stumbling for some time for a number of circumstances some of which are connected to the government of Sudan and others to the LJM in addition to circumstances related to UNAMID. However, we are now coming very close to completing those arrangements. As a powerful movement, we can hold discourse with all political forces, not only the National Congress Party (NCP). And, as a movement, we have human resources besides a tremendous regional and international support, although we are until now partners with the NCP in running the country’s affairs. We are faithful to this partnership which is going on satisfactorily and any arising differences are resolved in a pacific and constructive dialogue.
Q: How do you view the President’s National Dialogue initiative for resolving the Sudan’s political and economic problems?
A: I think the LJM has offered a good example for dialogue in the Sudan, as we have first agreed on unification of a group of armed movements, something which all international and regional communities did not expect to take place. But we managed to reach this unity and the posts of this united movement were distributed in a way that was acceptable to the movements and we elected Dr. Tijani Sisi, who was not affiliated to anyone of the movements, as a chairman of the LJM. We have opted for negotiation, rather than violence, with the government and accepted the commitments placed upon us and have returned to Sudan and have become partners, not quarrelsome, in the government since accepting negotiation in Doha in 2010. We have therefore presented an example since our return to Sudan and we have continued advocating negotiation, telling the NCP that, as a political body, it cannot rule the country all by itself, while the opposition cannot remain in the opposition for-ever and that it is therefore logical that domestic agreement must be reached on the national issues. It was appropriate of the President to invite the political parties for dialogue on those issues, something which should have occurred 50 years ago, but the Sudanese political parties were responsible for this. Those issues were not addressed since Independence until the President, with this initiative, has placed the issues of identity, peace, constitution and economic situation for debate. Although I am pessimistic about this as many NCP members are opposed and unfaithful to the dialogue and so are many opposition parties and I call upon the NCP members to back the initiative, as the matter has become a reality and the anti-dialogue voices have waned. We are advancing forward wishing that the dialogue be crowned with a nation-wide agreement for resolving the issues under discussion, provided that a timeframe be set for the dialogue and the non-signatory armed movements agree to show up for participation under agreed upon security and administrative arrangements. The dialogue must be serious and inclusive so as not to deliver those problems to the coming generations. The challenge confronting us as a government, opposition and partners, is to unite faithfully around those issues. Both the government and opposition must be willing to make concessions for reaching a middle-of-the road agreement to serve the national interests and to deliver to the coming generations a robust country with a lasting constitution and a strong economy, bearing in mind the country immense national resources. Agreement must be reached on a specific period of time for devolution of power and the political parties must be capable for competition and accepting the outcome which must be binding.
Q: How do you assess the progress of DDPD implementation since the date you signed it until now?
A: The DDPD comprises five chapters- power, resources, justice, truth and reconciliation in addition to a topic on compensations and IDPs and refugees return to their original villages, one on the security arrangements and another chapter containing timetables and the Darfur-Darfur dialogue. I think what has been achieved is reasonable, bearing in mind the country’s political, economic and social circumstances and in spite of this some improvement has happened in the security situation although the latter has recently deteriorated especially in North and South Darfur states. Many parts of the security arrangements were accomplished, yet there are some parts which have not yet been achieved. The LJM and NCP have managed to overcome numerous obstacles. While the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has joined us, we urge the other movement to join the peace process. I can say that most of the political and partnership issues have been settled while the parts on the economic and resources have not yet been resolved, although the government has begun to do so by paying 200 million dollars as a first installment with which a number of projects have been executed in Darfur. Moreover, we have been promised 300 billion Sudanese pounds in the new budget. The development projects are progressing properly as Qatar-supported voluntary return villages have been opened and we expect the foundation stones for new Qatar-sponsored villages would be laid down in the coming period. However, there are three important issues which have not yet been achieved. One of those issues is completion of the security arrangements which, if not completed could cause a setback for the DDPD agreement, and, therefore, those arrangements must be completed with the LJM and the Sudanese JEM and, in order to show further sincerity, the DDPD must be included in the national constitution. The second unachieved issue is the referendum on administration of the Darfur region while the third issue is related to the civil service. But, in the spirit of accord and equal partnership, we – LJM, JEM and NCP – can surmount those problems. We call for giving JEM shares in the government and DRA so as to set an example for other movements to join in the peace process.
Q: How do you take the inauguration by the First Vice President of the Qatar-financed voluntary return villages?
A: Our brothers in Qatar have set an unprecedented example. First, they hosted the negotiation, second, they played good offices, and third, after the signing of the DDPD, they did not waive the parties. Qatar was omnipresent during inauguration of the DRA in Darfur on February 8, 2012 and during a visit by a Presidential delegation to Darfur, hosted the donors’ conference in Doha and donated 500 million dollars. Moreover, they agreed to back the Darfur Development Bank (DDB) 2 billion dollars. The final steps are now being taken for establishing the DDB to which Qatar is the key contributor in association with Malaysia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Sudanese government. Qatar has offered the United Nations 88 million dollars for implementation of development projects in Darfur of which some have been carried out and other are under execution. It has set an example in implementation of projects in the region and has offered 530 million dollars for construction of model returns villages which the First Vice President inaugurated during a tour of Darfur states. Those villages were built in Arara region in West Darfur, Ramintas in Central Darfur, and Bulbul Tamasko in South Darfur in addition to two more villages, one in Um Rady in East Darfur and the other in Tabet region in North Darfur, which will be inaugurated later on. We are grateful to the government and people of Qatar.
Q: Would you give us a briefing on fulfillment of the financial pledges the donors’ made during the recent Doha conference for development of Darfur?
A: The conference which was held in Doha in April last year and in which more than 119 donors took part came out with two important results- the first was an unprecedented political support to the RDA and the Sudanese government and a strong acclaim to the State of Qatar, and the second result was in the form of financial pledges for rehabilitation and development of Darfur and approval of a strategy for development of the region. The DRA, the Sudanese government and the international community are presently collaborating for implementation of this strategy which is scheduled to finish in April 2019. The funds set for this strategy total 6.5 billion dollars of which the DRA has obtained more than 3 billion dollars. We have agreed on convening another conference after two years. The High Follow-up Committee will hold on a date to be set next month to follow up the progress of implementation of the Doha agreement and the situation of the financial pledges by the donors some of whom have met their pledges. A number of nations have pledged to provide 200 million dollars for stretching the national power grid to Darfur region. Unlike previous conferences, many parties met their financial pledges. However, the process of reconstruction and development of Darfur requires security and stability so that an ideal employment of these resources can be achieved in a way that will be perceived by the people on the ground.
End
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