Kigali talks seek ways to back Sudan in upcoming elections

A retreat of special representatives of the African Union and the United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur has agreed that the conflict in Darfur must be addressed in a more holistic manner in order to prevent it from interfering with Sudan’s April elections.

The retreat, held on February 27 in Kigali, attracting special envoys from China, France, the US, the United Kingdom and a European Union representative to Darfur, stressed the need to ensure Sudan holds elections as scheduled.

The envoys called on the UN Mission in Sudan, to work closely with other peacekeepers in supporting the elections.

UNMIS was established by the UN Security Council in 2005, after Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

It was meant to aid in the implementation of the CPA, through humanitarian assistance.

But the UN Special Representative to Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, who is also the Head of Unamid, said the peace keepers would play a more active role in Sudan’s presidential and parliamentary elections from April 11- 13. A National Assembly will also be elected then.

The polls bring to an end, the transitional period which began when the decades-long civil war ended in 2005.

However, there are fears that the troubled Darfur region will not participate.

But a Sudanese official attending the retreat reaffirmed that at least, “90 per cent of Darfur,” will vote while the rest will hold elections at a later date.

Addressing the press shortly after holding talks with President Paul Kagame, Prof Gambari said: “there is a common understanding on the way forward for Darfur, the situation has improved greatly since 2004, despite many challenges that still remain on the course to fully returning peace in Darfur.”

Prof Gambari also said the current efforts to broker peace between Sudan and Chad, were paying off.

A recent meeting in Qatar, for instance, culminated in the signing of a ceasefire deal between the government of Sudan and the rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement.

“We call on both parties to implement the agreement without delay and urge all other movements to promptly join the peace process. We express hope that these developments will translate into speedy positive impact on the ground, and call on all parties to refrain from engaging in violence,” the retreat communiqué said.

The UN estimates that 10,000 civilians in the Darfur region have died so far, and over 100,000 have fled into neighbouring Chad.

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo told the local press that the retreat of special envoys indicated that there are signs that peace will return to Sudan, and that there is commitment by countries, especially the UN Security Council Permanent Members and the EU to end the conflict.