Darfur: Another chance for peace?

The Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May 2006 was hailed as marking the end of the brutal conflict that had raged in Western Sudan since 2003. However, within weeks of this agreement, fighting had resumed and even escalated across Darfur. In the last year the three original rebel movements have fragmented into 12 armed groups; civilian displacement has continued; humanitarian access is severely reduced and banditry is rife.

Acknowledging the need for a resumption of negotiations, the AU and UN have created a new initiative led by a joint AU-UN mediation team, which is making tentative steps towards the resumption of negotiations. However significant challenges face the process not least the fragmentation of the rebel movement and the need to involve the displaced and marginalised population in decision making.

At this ODI Humanitarian Policy Group and Christian Aid event, key experts including individuals directly involved in the peace process, gave their assessments of the current situation in Darfur and the key challenges to be overcome.

This meeting was conducted under the Chatham House rule. The meeting report (see link below) offers a summary of key points. Discussion ranged between speakers and participants and covered a range of issues related to the peace process in Darfur.