TRIBAL ELDERS who attended a meeting before the release of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki were told Ireland would contribute more to long-term development in the region in partnership with the government in Khartoum, Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister has told The Irish Times.
The meeting has been described by Sudanese officials as crucial in securing the release of Ms Commins and her Ugandan colleague. The two Goal aid workers were held for more than 100 days in Darfur.
“We said to [the elders] that the Irish people are now sympathising with you because in this long time they have understood the problem of Darfur, that it is a problem of development, and they are ready to participate in the long run in partnership with the Sudanese government, to help you with basic infrastructure such as water, education and other projects for the future,” said Abdul Bagi al-Jailani, the minister who oversaw negotiations for the release of the women.
But the Department of Foreign Affairs said no specific commitments were made at the meeting which took place in the north Darfur town of El Fasher. It was attended by Irish Ambassador Gerry Corr and his Ugandan counterpart. “We did say that we would look at proposals for projects, in the areas of water and education,” the department added in a statement.
Mr Jailani travelled with the two ambassadors to El Fasher about 11 days before the women’s release to meet 10 tribal elders from the area in which the kidnapping took place. Sudanese authorities hailed the meeting as highly significant because the elders condemned the abduction and told the delegation they would employ what Mr Jailani referred to as “social isolation” to pressure the kidnappers to hand over the women. Officials believe the meeting paved the way for last Sunday’s release.
Mr Jailani also claimed Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin had “agreed in principle” to increase aid to Sudan when he visited Khartoum last month to assist in efforts to free the women. “He said he needed to see our proposals in this respect,” Mr Jailani said, adding the Sudanese government expects the Irish Ambassador to return to Khartoum within the next month to “take our proposals to the Irish people to see where they can enhance”.
Ireland’s development funding to Sudan is currently channelled through UN agencies such as the World Food Programme and NGOs including Concern, Trócaire and Goal, but Mr Jailani yesterday speculated on the prospect of bilateral co-operation.
“When we provide our proposals, this will give them time to see if they can establish a partnership with the government of Sudan at state level . . . In principle we have agreed that they want to help us.”
In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “No specific agreements have been entered into with Sudan. The Government is always open to look at any proposals that are brought forward and the department is on record that it will continue to provide aid to Sudan.”
In 2008, Ireland contributed more than €16.8 million to humanitarian agencies operating in Sudan. This year, more than €9.5 million has been allocated to date. A further €530,000 has been provisionally approved for 2009, but has yet to be disbursed.
Over the last year, Ireland’s overseas development assistance budget has been cut by €222 million or almost one-quarter. In July, the McCarthy report recommended the State defer until 2015 (from 2012) its commitment to reach the UN target of allocating 0.7 per cent of national income to overseas development.
President Mary McAleese is to host a reception to celebrate the return of aid worker Sharon Commins to Ireland at Áras an Uachtaráin at 4pm tomorrow. It will be attended by the Commins family, their friends and also by representatives of all departments, agencies and organisations that assisted in her release.