TXET- African Peace and Security Council extends Darfur troops

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 79th meeting held on 22 June 2007, adopted the following decision on the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur and the extension of the mandate of the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS):

Council,

1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur [PSC/PR/ 2(LXXIX)];

2. Reiterates its respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Sudan and its determination to contribute to achieving an early and lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur;

3. Recalls the existing agreements on the conflict in Darfur, as well as the conclusions of the high-level consultation on Darfur, held in Addis Ababa on 16 November 2006, as endorsed by the communiqué adopted at its 66th meeting held in Abuja on 30 November 2006 [PSC/PR/Comm(LXVI)] and the statement by the President of the Security Council issued on 19 December 2006 [S/PRST/ 2006/55], and the Communiqué by the Council of Ministers of the Government of the Sudan of 3rd December 2006, endorsing both the conclusions of the Addis Ababa high-level consultation and the Abuja decision ;

4. Welcomes the successful outcome of the high-level African Union/United Nations technical consultations with the Government of the Sudan on the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation, held in Addis Ababa on 11 and 12 June 2007, and the acceptance by the Government of the Sudan, following the explanations and clarifications provided by the African Union and the United Nations in their presentation, of the joint proposals on the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation contained in the report of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations;

5. Commends the constructive spirit that prevailed during the technical consultations of 11 and 12 June 2007, in particular the cooperation extended by the Government of the Sudan. Council urges for continued and concerted efforts by all concerned, building on this encouraging development, to promote confidence with the view to facilitating the successful conclusion of the peace process in Darfur;

6. Authorizes the deployment, as soon as possible and for an initial period to be determined after appropriate consultations between the African Union and the United Nations, of the African Union/United Nations hybrid operation on the basis of the proposals contained in the report of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as explained and clarified during the technical consultations of 11 and 12 June 2007 with the Government of the Sudan, including on the mission tasks, structure, command and control, resource requirements and funding sources, force and personnel generation, and mission support, as well as on the cooperation required from the Government of the Sudan;

7. Decides that the mandate of the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation, as informed by the report of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, including the existing agreements on the conflict in Darfur and the need to support the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement of 5 May 2006 and subsequent agreements, as well as the explanations and clarifications provided by the African Union and the Untied Nations, shall be as follows:

(i) to contribute to the restoration of necessary security conditions for the safe provision of humanitarian assistance and facilitate full humanitarian access throughout Darfur,

(ii) to contribute to the protection of civilian populations under imminent threat of physical violence and prevent attacks against civilians, within its capability and areas of deployment, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of the Sudan,

(iii) to monitor, observe compliance with and verify the implementation of various ceasefire agreements signed since 2004, as well as assist with the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement and any subsequent agreements,

(iv) to assist the political process in order to ensure that it is inclusive, and to support the African Union-United Nations joint mediation in its efforts to broaden and deepen commitment to the peace process,

(v) to contribute to a secure environment for economic reconstruction and development, as well as the sustainable return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes,

(vi) to contribute to the promotion of respect for, and protection of, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Darfur,

(vii) to assist in the promotion of the rule of law in Darfur, and

(viii) to monitor the security situation at the Sudan’s borders with Chad and the Central African Republic;

8. Requests the United Nations Security Council to urgently authorize the deployment of the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation, to be funded through United Nations assessed contributions and managed according to the United Nations procedures, rules and regulations;

9. Encourages the Commission and the Secretariat of the United Nations to put in place all the required mechanisms for the smooth transition from AMIS to the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation and the early deployment of the latter;
10. Welcomes the appointment by the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 8 May 2007, of Mr. Rodolphe Adada, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Congo, as the Joint Special Representative, as well as the appointment by the Chairperson of the Commission on 23 May 2007, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of General Martin Luther Agwai, from Nigeria, as the Force Commander for the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation;

11. Requests the African Union member States to contribute troops and other personnel to the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation so as to ensure that the operation has a predominantly African character, in keeping with the relevant decisions of the Peace and Security Council;

12. Decides, in the meantime, to extend the mandate of AMIS for an additional period not exceeding six (6) months, until 31 December 2007, in the expectation that efforts will be expedited for the early deployment of the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation and that the African Union partners will continue to provide the financial and logistical support required to enable AMIS effectively implement its mandate;

13. Underlines the need to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations light and heavy support packages to AMIS, in order to enhance the capability of the Mission and facilitate a smooth transition to the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation. Council also underlines the need for urgent support to facilitate the deployment of at least two additional battalions in accordance with the concept of operation for AMIS approved at its meeting held in New York on 20 September 2006;

14. Urges all the Sudanese parties to fully comply with the ceasefire and to honour their commitments as contained in the various agreements they have signed. Council further urges the Government of the Sudan to continue to extend the necessary cooperation for the implementation of the mandate of AMIS, as well as that of the light and heavy support packages and the African Union – United Nations hybrid operation;

15. Reiterates the urgent need to reenergize the political process and, in this regard, expresses, once again, its full support to the joint African Union-United Nations efforts, through their respective Special Envoys, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson, and calls upon the Sudanese parties to extend all the necessary cooperation to the African Union and the United Nations in this respect. Council welcomes the joint roadmap developed by the African Union and the United Nations, through their Special Envoys, and encourages all stakeholders to continue to extend the necessary cooperation to the Special Envoys within the framework of the Tripoli Consensus of 29 April 2007;

16. Calls for renewed efforts to alleviate the plight of the civilian population, including the provision of increased humanitarian assistance;

17. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to follow up on the implementation of this decision and to report regularly on the efforts made in this respect;

18. Decides to remain seized of the matter.