Funding: Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS)
October 2023 – ongoing
Since the beginning of the armed conflict in Sudan between the SAF and RSF on April 15, 2023, Darfur has been, along with Khartoum, the region most affected by the fighting and violence. The majority of major cities in Darfur, such as El Fasher, Nyala, Zalingei, and Kutum, have been the scene of fighting.
This project aims to establish a regular platform for dialogue and coordination involving armed actors present in Darfur, including local commanders, as well as political and social actors with influence on the ground and a potential role to play in local mediation. The initiative aims to create communication channels and trust between operational actors, enabling them to “de-conflict” escalating situations and ensure that local incidents do not escalate. It also provides Darfuri political and military actors with a space for dialogue so that they can jointly develop a stabilization and de-escalation strategy for Darfur on the political, military, and humanitarian fronts. Finally, it aims to help Darfuri leaders ensure that existing peace initiatives on Sudan, such as those of the AU and IGAD, fully take into account the specific issues of Darfur. The project is conducted in coordination with international and regional initiatives for conflict resolution in Sudan, including those of the African Union (AU), Jeddah, Sudan’s neighboring countries, and the Darfur process initiated in Lomé in July 2023.