UPDATE- Sudan, AU, UN meet Sunday to discuss Darfur hybrid force
(Adds paragraphs about recruitment of national staff and rewriting of cooperation on helicopters)
July 10, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudan, African Union and United Nations committee charged with the deployment of the hybrid mission in Darfur will meet during the week end.
During its sixth meeting to be held in Khartoum, the Tripartite Mechanism will discuss issues pertaining to the deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur. The issue of the five tactical helicopters is expected among the agenda of the meeting.
The helicopter provided by the Ethiopian government would be based in South Darfur capital Nyala. The UNAMID needs to secure cooperation of the Sudanese authorities for these tactical helicopters.
Sudanese delegation will be chaired by Mr. Mutrif Sidiq, undersecretary at the foreign ministry who is also in charge of UNAMID file. The African Union will be represented by Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security , while the United Nations will be represented by UN Under- Secretary General for Field Support, Ms Susana Malcorra.
The 26,00O stronghold force now has some 15,000 troops in Darfur. Despite the restricted mandate and the lack of troops, the mission exerts huge efforts to be in good terms with the Sudanese authorities and to deal in confidence with the displaced in Darfur camps as well as the rebel groups.
The mission also injects significant amounts of money in the local economy through contracts concluded with Sudanese suppliers. The AU-UN operation awarded 179.5 million of US dollar to Sudanese vendors since last March, said UNMID spokesperson, Noureddine Mezni.
To implement its mandate the mission, the mission recruited 2259 Sudanese staff representing 65 per cent of the authorized national posts. In addition, there are 3,088 individual contractors working for UNAMID at HQ, Sectors and Team Sites.
The mission committed its self to prioritize Darfuris in the recruitment of national staff. UNAMID has also continued to implement outreach efforts to universities, professional organizations and others in order to attract applicants from all groups.
Mezni expressed hope that this meeting will find rapid solution to a number of issues including the UNAMID radio. The hybrid mission considers the radio as a crucial tool to enhance confidence building process in Darfur.
(ST)