UN agrees to provide support package to African Union

Nov 25, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The United Nations and the African Union today signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the UN will provide light support package (LSP) to the AU Mission in the Sudan (AMIS).

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit signed on behalf of the African Union and UNMIS Officer-in-Charge Taye-Brook Zerihoun for the United Nations, a joint UN-AU press release said.

This agreement, along with the tripartite mechanism between the AU, UN, and the Government of Sudan, will help ensure a more transparent, systematic, and efficient provision of UN support to AMIS.

The LSP was proposed by the UN Secretary-General and endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council at its meeting of 20 September 2006 in New York.

On 25 September 2006, the UN Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the AU Commission sent a joint letter presenting the LSP to the President of the Republic of Sudan, who in his reply of 3 October 2006 welcomed the initiative and expressed support for the support package.

(ST)