Sudan’s FM, Joint envoy discuss deployment of Darfur peacekeepers
April 8, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor discussed on Tuesday with the head of Darfur joint mission Rodolphe Adada, the status of deployment of United Nations- African Union peacekeeping troops in the war-torn region of Darfur.
“UNAMID is providing the necessary infrastructure and logistical arrangements for effective deployment in Darfur. UNAMID engineers, administrators and logisticians are working full force to ensure that plans are implemented in an efficient and timely manner.” The hybrid force said in a statement on the meeting.
The coming two months are expected to witness the deployment of additional military personnel from Egypt and Ethiopia. Equipment for the Egyptian troops has already arrived and is being transported to designated locations in Darfur.
“An advanced force of approximately 90 is already on the ground, and the remaining troops should follow soon.” The UNAMID said.
As for the final date for the completion of deployment of the hybrid peacekeeping forces, Adada indicated that the deployment could hardly be completed before 2009.
According to Resolution 1769 adopted by the UN Security Council in July last year, the 26,000-strong UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping forces should have been deployed in Darfur by Dec. 2007.
But until now, only some 10,000 troops have arrived in the western Sudanese region, including some 7,000 African troops who had been sent there in 2004 in accordance with an AU plan to enforce a ceasefire in the region.
Ali Al-Sadiq, spokesman of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, said the meeting came as part of regular meetings Adada holds with the ministry, after the signing of an agreement between the Sudanese government and the UN and AU on the status of the peacekeeping forces in Darfur early this year.
Adada and Alor also tackled the normalization of Chad- Sudan relations within the context of the Dakar Agreement. A meeting to follow-up on the implementation of the agreement is due to take place in Libreville, Gabon, on 10 April 2008.
Adada was requested by UN Secretary General to attend the Libreville meeting, as observer. He said, “The Secretary General attaches great importance to normalization between Chad and Sudan, which has a direct impact over security and stability in Darfur and the entire region. It is crucial that the two countries remain steadfast in their resolve to restore peace and stability along their shared border.”
During the course of his visit to New York, Adada is also expected, on 22 April 2002, to deliver to the Security Council a Ninety-Day report on progress made by UNAMID in the implementation of its mandate.
(ST)