UN Security Council delegation to discuss Abyei, Darfur in Sudan’s visit

June 2, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — A UN Security Council delegation will start tomorrow a three day visit to the Sudan to discuss the Sudan peace deal implementation and the deployment of the hybrid peacekeeping force into Darfur.

The delegation is in a five-country mission to Africa hoping that its presence would have a strong positive impact on the region’s peace processes, stability and humanitarian conditions, Dumisani Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, said last week.

The delegation will arrive from Djibouti to the southern Sudan capital, Juba where it is expected to discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the ongoing dispute between the two peace partners over the oil rich Abyei.

The British Ambassador the to the United Nations, John Sawers, who ill lead the delegation to the Sudan, said the focus would return to what was need to keep the CPA in southern Sudan moving forward despite Abyei row.

The Council delegation will move from Juba to the capital of North Darfur El Fasher where are the headquarters of the UNAMID peacekeeping mission to assess the situation in the troubled region.

Sawers indicated last week that the visit o f the delegation to Darfur would focus on the political process and the possibility of appointing a head mediator.

In Khartoum, the panel would discuss the CPA implementation and the Abyei issue. It also will tackle with the Sudanese officials Darfur peace process as well as the deployment of the peacekeeping troops.

The UN panel refused to comment on whether the delegation will raise the issue of the Sudanese official indicted by the International Criminal Court. However the “mission would stress that all Council resolutions must be implemented and the rule of law must be followed.”

The delegation is also expected to discuss the issue of tension with the neighboring Chad following a rebel attack on the Sudanese capital on May 10.

(ST)