As another Darfur ceasefire deal is signed, UN envoy voices hope

The top United Nations official in the war-wracked Darfur region of western Sudan today welcomed an agreement between the national Government and a rebel group, calling it “another important milestone” on the path towards a comprehensive peace pact to end the deadly conflict that has engulfed the region for seven years.

Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), said it was critical now for Khartoum and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), which signed the framework agreement today, to implement its contents.

That agreement includes taking steps towards a ceasefire between the two sides in Darfur, a region roughly the size of Spain where an estimated 300,000 have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced since 2003.

“This will impact on the security for the people on the ground,” said Mr. Gambari, speaking from Doha, Qatar, where the framework agreement was signed.

He added that today’s deal should directly benefit UNAMID, because it means a comprehensive peace agreement “is coming closer to fruition with the unfolding developments in Doha,” and therefore the peacekeeping mission will “have the peace to keep and peace partners to work with.”

Last month the Sudanese Government and one of Darfur’s biggest rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), signed a similar pact aimed at ending their hostilities – a move that was immediately welcomed by Mr. Gambari as well as by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.

Today’s deal with the LJM “represents yet another important milestone in the road towards the destination of an all-inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement that should usher in durable peace and stability in Darfur,” Mr. Gambari underlined.

The head of UNAMID added that civil society in Darfur must be closely involved with the peace process as it continues, and he urged the LJM and Khartoum “to uphold their commitment to dialogue and to be ready to make useful concessions, no matter how painful they may be, in the interests of peace, progress and development of their people.”

In addition, Mr. Gambari welcomed news of the release of Gauthier Lefevre, an aid worker for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who was taken hostage in October last year in West Darfur state.