Darfur peace process risks collapse if government refuses to fund

The head of the Darfur Regional Authority, Tijani Sese, has warned that the reluctance of the government to fund re-constructive efforts in Darfur may lead to the collapse of the peace process. The Liberation and Justice Movement, a Darfuri rebel group, headed by Tijani Sese, signed the Doha peace agreement with the government last year, and as a result the DRA was formed. Sese said the lack of funding by the government, which is supposed to fund the Darfur Development Bank with $200 million, is slowing down the process of implementing the Doha agreement including planning desperately needed development projects for the region. The conference for displaced people on the topic of voluntary return scheduled for April is at risk of not taking place. Sese also submitted a statement to parliament yesterday saying that the food situation in Darfur is alarming.