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UNAMID supports peaceful coexistence and reconciliation conference in Golo, Central Darfur

Photo by Kone Mouroulaye, UNAMID.

From 13-14 February, UNAMID’s Governance and Community Stabilization Section (GCSS), in collaboration with the Central Jebel Marra Locality and Native Administration (NA) leaders, organized a two-day peaceful coexistence and reconciliation conference in Golo, Central Darfur. A total of 500 participants attended the conference, including 150 women from the various villages and nomadic Damrats in Central Jebel Marra locality representing farmers, pastoralists, Peaceful Coexistence Committees (PCC), women and youth groups, religious and influential community leaders.

The aim of the conference was to consolidate discussions from four dialogue forums conducted by GCSS in November 2018 for farmers and pastoralists at four locations within the Locality and to propose strategies to enhance peaceful coexistence and reconciliation among the communities of Central Jebel Marra locality.

During the two-day conference the participants discussed the importance of peaceful coexistence and how to promote it among communities, and between farmers and pastoralists, the negative effects of conflict between farmers and pastoralists on sustainable livelihood and natural resource management, the role of various stakeholders in mitigating and resolving conflicts when they occur, the important role of dialogue in conflict management and enhancement of peace and reconciliation between farmers and pastoralists.

Participants also emphasized the importance of collaboration between farmers and pastoralists to overcome their differences and attributed the absence of the arms collection campaign in the Locality as a contributing factor to insecurity in the area. The local authorities committed to implement the outcomes and recommendations of the conference.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of Central Jebel Marra Locality, Mr. Jafar Mohammed, called for mutual respect between farmers and pastoralists. The Shartai (Traditional Leader) in the Locality, Mr. Yousif Ahmed Abdelmoula Salama, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity provided by the conference to discuss important issues affecting communities in the locality.

In the closing remarks, GCSS Officer, Shecku Sillah, called on the stakeholders to seize the opportunity provided by the conference to promote sustainable peace and stability in the area, to prevent relapse into conflict and pave the way for a conducive secured environment that will contribute to increased international donor confidence, enabling the UNCT to bring in much-needed development assistance to the region.

The nomadic leaders while acknowledging that some rogue elements among them were creating problems, assured the conference that they do not have problems with the local communities including farmers. The women representatives appealed to the nomadic community to stop harassing women conducting their livelihoods activities in the locality.