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.