Sudan expresses reservations on elements of UNAMID proposed budget
November 26, 2007 (UNITED NATIONS) — The Sudanese government objected two portions of the report on the proposed budget for the Darfur hybrid force to be deployed early 2008.
“Some things in the budget report can be rephrased to be consistent with the frameworks so that they don’t give the impression that they are bypassing the works of the local and federal authorities” he said in prepared remarks before the general assembly session reviewing the financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.
UN Security Council resolution 1769 establishing UN-AU hybrid force provided for a transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the force known as UNAMID by December 31st.
However the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in his latest report that several obstacles stand in the way of a speedy deployment including the land needed for the construction of UNAMID headquarters in Darfur. The Sudanese government has yet to assign the land for the hybrid force.
The other issue pending is Sudan’s approval on a list of troop donor countries for the Darfur force. At Sudan’s request the UN resolution called for a force with a “predominantly African character” but stressed the need for “a force which could effectively implement the mandate set out in resolution 1769”.
The Sudanese envoy said that his government would like to see the proposed structure of UNAMID to “reflect the continuous channels of cooperation with the UN”.
Abdel-Mahmood said that his government does not see why only 4 of the 544 UN volunteers proposed should be Sudanese nationals.
“Accommodating a larger number of Sudanese volunteers is possible in a country with a population of 40 million people” he added.
The Sudanese diplomat reiterated his objection to awarding the American defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the hybrid force infrastructure without soliciting a formal bid per UN rules.
Abdel-Mahmood alleged that Lockheed Martin may not even be technically qualified for the contract. He further said that contact between the UN and Lockheed Martin took place before resolution 1769.
UN officials said that the contract was awarded to the US Company due to “limited window of opportunity to tender a construction package”. The UN triggered financial rule 105.16 which allow the UN Secretariat “to waive formal methods of solicitation in the best interest of the UN”.
The Sudanese envoy also complained that leadership positions in the UNAMID are not equitably distributed between the UN and African Union.
He called on the UN Secretariat to provide clarification on that aspect and to realize that the UNAMID has to have an African character in the positions filled as well.
The UN Security Council will discuss a report on the progress of the UNAMID tomorrow.
Resolution 1769 requires the UN Secretary General to present a report every 90 days on the progress made on the implementation of the light, heavy support and UNAMID. It also requires an update on the implementation of the joint communiqué between Sudan and the UN on facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died in the conflict, which Washington calls genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use. The Sudan government says 9,000 people have been killed.
(ST)