Options For Peace And Justice in Darfur: Implications of the Recent Report by the African Union High –Level Panel on Darfur

This seminar report analyzes the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur's recommendations for peace and justice. It highlights the need for a combination of hybrid courts, truth commissions, and national legal reforms in Sudan, while noting significant political hurdles including the 2010 elections and the 2011 Southern Sudan referendum. The report also critiques the AUPD's silence on specific ICC indictments and the AU's decision not to surrender President al-Bashir.

• The AUPD report suggests that justice and reconciliation in Darfur are inseparable and have national significance, requiring the contribution of all Sudanese people. To achieve effective justice, the AUPD proposes several mechanisms, including a Hybrid court, Special Tribunals (specifically one for Special Events in Darfur), a Truth Commission, and traditional justice mechanisms.
• The AUPD report is noted for certain omissions, specifically failing to mention the cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC)—such as those involving al-Bashir, Ali Kushayb, and Ahmad Muhammad Harun—the AU Sirte decision regarding the non-surrender of al-Bashir, and the specific role of the ICC in Sudan.
• The seminar identified several political obstacles to implementing the Darfur Report, including a highly tense environment, the April 2010 national elections, and the January 2011 self-determination referendum in Southern Sudan. There is skepticism regarding the Sudanese government's commitment to these processes, given that justice and reconciliation were not adequately prioritized in previous agreements such as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), and the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA).
• For the delivery of justice in Darfur, the Sudanese government is advised to implement several reforms, including removing legal and de facto immunities, establishing an independent investigations component, providing guarantees for fair trial rights, and creating special legislation to address rape and other sexual crimes.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). Options For Peace And Justice in Darfur: Implications of the Recent Report by the African Union High –Level Panel on Darfur. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/5NOV09REPORT.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Options For Peace And Justice in Darfur: Implications of the Recent Report by the African Union High –Level Panel on Darfur. 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/5NOV09REPORT.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Options For Peace And Justice in Darfur: Implications of the Recent Report by the African Union High –Level Panel on Darfur |date=5 November 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/5NOV09REPORT.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009options, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Options For Peace And Justice in Darfur: Implications of the Recent Report by the African Union High –Level Panel on Darfur}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/5NOV09REPORT.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }