Hybrid force command explains Darfur mission to Sudanese army

January 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Within its efforts to build confidence with the different Sudanese stakeholders, on January 20 the Darfur hybrid force command explained the military and police components of the UNAMID to the Sudan Armed Forces, Police and State Security Services.

General Martin Luther Agwai, force commander of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) briefed the Sudanese regular forces about the hybrid mission and its mandate as peacekeeping force in Darfur.

He gave a detailed explanation on UNAMID’s equipment, force structure, personnel, concept of operations and deployment. He emphasized that UNAMID’s equipment is for defensive and not offensive use, and outlined the four stages of the Darfur joint peacekeeping operation: transition, stabilization, consolidation and drawdown.

On his part, the Police Commissioner, Major General Mike Fryer, explained the structure, strength, mandate and core duties of UNAMID Civilian Police (CIVPOL), as well as the structure and duties of Formed Police Units (FPUs).

Fryer announced that new police stations are being constructed while old ones are being rehabilitated. He emphasized the need to intensify community policing, fight against gender-based violence and improve co-operation between UNAMID Police, Government Police and Movements’ Police in Darfur.

The General Agwai disclosed during the meeting that as of 31 December 2007, 47 peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Sudan had been killed during the past three years.

(ST)