Tripartite meeting highlights concern on security of Darfur peacekeepers

November 16, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Tripartite Mechanism, made up of African Union, United Nations, and the Government of Sudan, today highlighted concern over the security of Darfur peacekeepers as two of the UNAMID personnel are abducted since two months.

The three delegations held a meeting on Tuesday in Khartoum on the deployment of the hybrid AU UN peacekeeping mission which replaced the African mission in Darfur since last year but still working to reach its full strength.

The seventh meeting was co-chaired by UN under Secretary-General for Field Support, Susana Malcorra, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra and Sudan’s Under–Secretary of Foreign Affairs while the Acting Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho,led (UNAMID) delegation including Deputy Joint Special Representive for Operations and Management and Force Commander Lt. Gen. General Patrick Nyamvumba.

All the participants expressed, in their opening speeches, concern over the prolonged abduction of the two UNAMID personnel who have been in captivity for 80 days since 29 August 2009. They stressed the importance of continuing efforts to ensure their safe release.

Dr. Siddiq reiterated the full commitment of the Sudanese government to the protection of UNAMID personnel. “This remained a top priority,” he said.

The kidnapping of UNAMID personnel occurred in Zalingei, 100 klm southeast of El-Geneina the capital of West Darfur state, on Saturday August 29. The two staff members, one woman and one man, were taken at gunpoint by four or five gunmen from their residence to an unknown destination.

The meeting also reviewed deployment of troops, including the ongoing preparations for the impending arrival of the five Ethiopian tactical helicopters, which will be based at Nyala airport in South Darfur.

With regard to the Radio UNAMID, Sudan gave assurances that action will be taken in the next week to allow broadcasting of radio programmes.

the meeting also discussed issues, such as staff security as well as water supply for Darfur local communities.

“The meeting went well and all the participants reiterated the need to maintain the spirit of partnership and cooperation, which has so far led to significant progress in the Mission’s deployment. They also expressed the determination to adress all kind of issues relevant to the facilitation of UNAMID deployment for the benefit of Sudanese in general, and Darfurians in particular, who have suffered as a consequence of the conflict,” said UNAMID spokesperson Noureddine Mezni.

More than 15,000 military troops are now deployed in the Mission, representing 76 per cent of the authorized deployment. Also, almost 2,850 police advisors representing more 75 per cent of the authorized strength and more than 1,800 policemen are based in 12 formed police units (FPUs). The authorized number of FPUs for UNAMID is nineteen.

Mezni pointed out the positive economic impact resulting from the presence of the hybrid mission in Darfur. He said two third of UNAMID staff are Sudanese, and more than three thousand local individual contractors.

The hybrid mission has 1054 Sudanese vendors registered in its Vendor Registration Database and has awarded 174 purchase orders to Sudanese vendors between 01 July2009 and 13 November 2009,totaling 46,658,011.86 US Dollars.

“This brings the grand total of orders awarded to Sudanese vendors to 375,585,283.50 US Dollars since the beginning of the Hybrid Operation. This shows the significant contribution of UNAMID to the development of the economy of the country in general and Darfur in particular,” stressed the UNAMID official spokesperson.

The next meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa in February 2010.

(ST)