Mandate Darfur Forced to Cancel Civil Society Conference

How disappointing.

Thanks to the Government of Sudan's refusal to support and work with the organizers and participants of the Mandate Darfur conference, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has been forced to cancel the event altogether.

As explained in its press release:

“After many months of working with Darfurian civil society to build a mandate for peace, we regret to acknowledge that the Sudanese government is obstructing the safe passage of Darfurian delegates from Sudan , forcing us to cancel the conference.

“We believe that their coming together will help to find a way forward in the peace process. There is no element of this conference that could or should have been perceived as acting against the interests of the Sudanese government.

“Despite numerous attempts at engagement with the Sudanese government, including sending a delegation to Khartoum and inviting senior figures to address the conference, we were greatly disappointed that Sudanese security services harassed our delegates, confiscated passports and threatened the conference coordinators in Sudan. Ultimately, the government has refused to grant exit visas to the delegates making it impossible for the conference to proceed.

“We are saddened and disappointed that the government of Sudan did not take advantage of this opportunity to forward the cause for peace and allow civil society to engage constructively."

Responses from the international community have already started to trickle in, including from the European Union and notable voices on Darfur like Nick Kristof.

Truthfully, one cannot be surprised by this development, regardless of how disappointing it is. Sudan has a lengthy record of saying one thing and doing another.

For years, Sudan has placed restrictions on travels and refused the passage of Sudanese and foreigners throughout the country despite the numerous peace agreements and rhetorical pledges its made for peace. Just last month, President Bashir said peace in Darfur was in the hands of the Darfuri people, but then one month later refused them the permission to participate in the Mandate Darfur peace conference.

The United Nations, regional and local organizations, and foreign governments have reported on the government's tactics and refusal to grant their delegates entry and exit visas, restrict movement in the country, and deny permission to Darfuris to travel to Khartoum and elsewhere.

So while the conference is canceled, it raises the important question of how peace in Darfur and in Sudan can ever be realized if the government isn't willing to seize opportunities for such a peace. Hopefully, the Foundation and other non-state actors will find it upon themselves to continue pushing for such an opportunity.


Semhar Araia is an Africa analyst and a consultant based in Washington, DC.

Mandate Darfur Creates More Space for Sudanese Voices

Next week, political leaders, international peacemakers, advocates, and civil society organizers will convene in Addis Ababa to discuss the quest for peace in Darfur and the role of Darfuri civil society in realizing that peace.

Hosted by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an African foundation committed to good political governance in Africa, the goals of the Mandate Darfur conference are to facilitate a Darfuri-led initiative to "bring together civil society representatives of every community in the region, in order to build a mandate for peace."

Invitees include stakeholders from Sudan and the international community, including Darfuri traditional leaders, community organizers, lawyers, women and youth, along with rebel group representatives and Sudanese government officials. International non-governmental organizations and foreign diplomats are invited to attend purely as observers and will not participate in the discussions.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this conference is the void that it seeks to fulfill. Taking lessons drawn from previous and ongoing Darfuri diaspora led initiatives, which I have had the opportunity to participate in an observer, the conference could be a tremendous vehicle to help facilitate and amplify civilian voices from Sudan, both within the country and out in the diaspora.

Unlike previous official and unofficial efforts for peace in Darfur, this would be the first time that non-armed Darfuri groups are consulted at the same time as armed rebels and government officials to determine their own fate. It would be the first time that the terms of the discussion are set by the civil society. And it would be the first time that the commitments and mandate for Darfur are drafted with the input and leadership from civil society organizations directly affected by the insecurity and instability on the ground.

Depending on the broad interpretation and application of the term "peacebuilding" -- whether it means stabilization and reconstruction, reconciliation, development, transitional governments, or traditional justice --- the quest for that peace has typically been secured through state-to-state negotations between governments and diplomats, not through comprehensive and inclusive talks that included the unarmed groups with the armed groups. Once those peace agreements are signed, the building of that peace and its implementation is often predominately developed by international humanitarian organizations whose immediate and primary goal is to provide relief and assistance to the people on the ground.

The Mandate Darfur approach creates a new space for the people most affected to speak and participate in a more inclusive dialogue for peace. If it goes well, their priorities, demands, expectations and concerns of the average Darfuri should be clearly identified and presented in a unified voice. If it doesn't, then Mandate Darfur at a minimum sets the stage for the international community's future efforts at examining and supporting civil society's crucial role in peacebuilding. One can only surmise how the rest of the stakeholders will react when they see and hear the demands of the people seated directly across from them at the same table.

Semhar Araia is an Africa Analyst and consultant based in Washington, DC.