Sudan gov't to establish 1.9-bln-dollar development projects in Darfur

The Sudanese government on Monday decided to establish development and service projects in Darfur region at a total cost of 1.9 billion U.S. Dollars.

"These are basic projects that will contribute to overcoming the service and development problem which was considered an essential part in causing the rebellion in Darfur," Ali Mahmoud, minister of finance and national economy, told reporters on Monday.

He said the proposed projects include completion of the Western Salvation Highway, establishment of sub-roads in Darfur, establishment of an electric carrying line, rehabilitation of the railway line, establishment of water supply networks and health centers, rehabilitation of schools, expansion of the traditional agricultural schemes and improvement of animal production.

Sudan's economic sector ministers on Monday held a meeting, presided over by Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, to discuss Darfur development plan within the government's new strategy to tackle the Darfur issue.

"We have discussed the existing and proposed development projects in Darfur together with how to strengthen the development process in a way that leads to a comprehensive peace in the region, " Sudanese Presidential Adviser and head of Darfur strategy committee Ghazi Salahuddin told reporters following the meeting.

"The government's new strategy to tackle the Darfur issues stands on five courses including the negotiations, development, services, reconciliations and security. All these courses are presently going on together," he added.

Sudan government earlier announced a new strategy to deal with the Darfur issue, which focused on involving all components of the civil society in Darfur to create a partnership and find a settlement for the region's conflict which has been continuing since 2003.

Source: Xinhua