Darfur peace agreement is still fragile, say churches
-08/05/06
Churches, Sudanese rel
Darfur peace agreement is still fragile, say churches
-08/05/06
Churches, Sudanese relief organisations and church agencies, including the UK-based international development NGO Christian Aid, say that Darfur faces uncertain future after peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria have reached an uncertain agreement.
Intensive negotiations led by US and UK officials have finally persuaded the largest rebel group to sign a peace deal to end the carnage in Darfur.
Christians, Muslims, Jews and non-religious humanitarians in the USA and Europe kept up pressure on Western governments in the run-up to the agreement. There was a large demonstration in Washington DC on 30 April, supported by actor George Clooney and other public figures.
There is relief that further progress has been made. However two smaller rebel groups say they will not sign the document which the government of Sudan has already agreed to sign.
This has led to fears that the agreement will not be recognised on the ground leading in turn to more violence.
ìThis is the last chance for a possible peace in Darfur,î says Judith Melby, Christian Aidís Africa specialist.
She continues: ìA peace agreement, even a partial peace agreement, is just the first step in a very long journey to peace. It will take commitment, money and resources to see it through to real peace.î
But Ms Melby adds: ìThe future remains bleak for the more than two million people who have been displaced. The recent increase in violence has made it very difficult to help these people. And there are already reports all parties to the conflict are preparing military offensives.î
The insecurity is also affecting the displaced people in the camps where Christian Aid reports there are now killings and rapes. The sheiks, or tribal leaders, in the camps insist that no agreement can be possible unless there is an end to the insecurity and the Janajweed are disarmed.
ìIt was vital that the Abuja negotiations succeeded,î says Dr Mudawi, chair of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO), an organisation supported by a number of churches and NGOs.
He explained: ìThe Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Reconciliation (DDDR) was a vital component of the draft agreement. It is essential that representatives of every group in Darfur have a forum in which they can resolve their grievances which are the root causes of this disastrous conflict.î
Dr Mudawi says that ìSecuring an effective and properly monitored ceasefire and establishing the dialogue are key to ending the conflict.î
But the Janjaweed militias and the rebels have broken many cease fires in the past. Disarming the Janjaweed is a priority; the plan provides for all militia to be confined to camps where their heavy weapons will be removed.
ìAll sides are deeply suspicious of each other after more than three years of war,î comments Christian Aidís Judith Melby. ìThe international community must remain committed to the peace process if we are to see any real change on the ground in Darfur.î
She says that donor governments, which include the United Kingdom, ìmust fulfil their promises of assistance to the vulnerable communities in Darfur.î
ìPeacekeepers must be granted a strong enough mandate to provide protection and security to the displaced communities; they must also have the capacity to ensure the safe and voluntary return of these people to their homes,î declares Ms Melby.
The rebels took up arms in 2003 accusing the government in Khartoum of having marginalised the Darfur region. More than two million people have been displaced and some 200,000 killed.
[Also on Ekklesia: Avoid needless Darfur suffering, say church aid agencies 02/05/06; Churches and NGOs rally for Darfur as crisis deepens; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Christian aid partners address UN over Sudan; Catholic aid agency appeals to PM over Sudan; Christian aid agencies unite for Sudan; Archbishop spotlights Sudan suffering in Easter message to churches; Protests as Egypt vows to expel hundreds of Sudanese refugees; Christians arrested during Washington protest over Sudan]
Darfur peace agreement is still fragile, say churches
-08/05/06
Churches, Sudanese relief organisations and church agencies, including the UK-based international development NGO Christian Aid, say that Darfur faces uncertain future after peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria have reached an uncertain agreement.
Intensive negotiations led by US and UK officials have finally persuaded the largest rebel group to sign a peace deal to end the carnage in Darfur.
Christians, Muslims, Jews and non-religious humanitarians in the USA and Europe kept up pressure on Western governments in the run-up to the agreement. There was a large demonstration in Washington DC on 30 April, supported by actor George Clooney and other public figures.
There is relief that further progress has been made. However two smaller rebel groups say they will not sign the document which the government of Sudan has already agreed to sign.
This has led to fears that the agreement will not be recognised on the ground leading in turn to more violence.
ìThis is the last chance for a possible peace in Darfur,î says Judith Melby, Christian Aidís Africa specialist.
She continues: ìA peace agreement, even a partial peace agreement, is just the first step in a very long journey to peace. It will take commitment, money and resources to see it through to real peace.î
But Ms Melby adds: ìThe future remains bleak for the more than two million people who have been displaced. The recent increase in violence has made it very difficult to help these people. And there are already reports all parties to the conflict are preparing military offensives.î
The insecurity is also affecting the displaced people in the camps where Christian Aid reports there are now killings and rapes. The sheiks, or tribal leaders, in the camps insist that no agreement can be possible unless there is an end to the insecurity and the Janajweed are disarmed.
ìIt was vital that the Abuja negotiations succeeded,î says Dr Mudawi, chair of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO), an organisation supported by a number of churches and NGOs.
He explained: ìThe Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Reconciliation (DDDR) was a vital component of the draft agreement. It is essential that representatives of every group in Darfur have a forum in which they can resolve their grievances which are the root causes of this disastrous conflict.î
Dr Mudawi says that ìSecuring an effective and properly monitored ceasefire and establishing the dialogue are key to ending the conflict.î
But the Janjaweed militias and the rebels have broken many cease fires in the past. Disarming the Janjaweed is a priority; the plan provides for all militia to be confined to camps where their heavy weapons will be removed.
ìAll sides are deeply suspicious of each other after more than three years of war,î comments Christian Aidís Judith Melby. ìThe international community must remain committed to the peace process if we are to see any real change on the ground in Darfur.î
She says that donor governments, which include the United Kingdom, ìmust fulfil their promises of assistance to the vulnerable communities in Darfur.î
ìPeacekeepers must be granted a strong enough mandate to provide protection and security to the displaced communities; they must also have the capacity to ensure the safe and voluntary return of these people to their homes,î declares Ms Melby.
The rebels took up arms in 2003 accusing the government in Khartoum of having marginalised the Darfur region. More than two million people have been displaced and some 200,000 killed.
[Also on Ekklesia: Avoid needless Darfur suffering, say church aid agencies 02/05/06; Churches and NGOs rally for Darfur as crisis deepens; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Christian aid partners address UN over Sudan; Catholic aid agency appeals to PM over Sudan; Christian aid agencies unite for Sudan; Archbishop spotlights Sudan suffering in Easter message to churches; Protests as Egypt vows to expel hundreds of Sudanese refugees; Christians arrested during Washington protest over Sudan]