Darfur security situation has improved – UNAMID
July 22, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The security situation in Darfur has improved, said the head of Darfur peacekeeping mission yesterday in Addis Ababa.
Adada briefed the African Peace and Security Council on the situation in Darfur before to decide the renewal of the UNAMID mandate for another year as of July 31, said Noureddine Mezni the spokesperson of the joint mission.
“Adada said that the security situation in Darfur has considerably improved since the transition of authority from AMIS to UNAMID on 31 December 2007,” Mezni added.
He also called on all Sudanese stakeholders to seize this opportunity to engage a constructive dialogue, without any conditions and to redouble efforts to reach peace and reconciliation, stressing that no military solution to the Darfur crisis.
He welcomed the JEM release of 60 Sudanese forces prisoners, describing this initiative as a step forward in building confidence between the two parties.
The AU Peace and Security Council on Tuesday after the renewal of the UNAMID, asked that the UN take the same measure.
The UN Security is expected to renew the mandate of the hybrid peacekeeping mission by the end of the month. It is also set to discuss the UNAMID performances.
Adada, in addition, pointed out that a target of 97 per cent of deployment remains the aim of the Mission. However he told the Council that UNAMID is still lacking air mobility and force enablers to be more efficient on the ground..
As of July 22, 2009 UNAMID has on the ground 13491 military personel,1845 police,1115 Formed Police Units,1109 international staff from more than 100 countries,2255 national staff and 335 UN Volunteers.
(ST)