UNAMID holds workshop with Sudanese security forces
September 24, 2008 (ELFASHER) — The African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reported that on Tuesday it conducted a training workshop on security coordination for senior and medium level officers from the Sudanese government’s (GoS) Police, National Security and Military Intelligence forces.
The one-day workshop was conducted at the police headquarters in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, and sought to inform the officers on the mission’s mandate, the Status of Forces Agreement, the host government’s responsibilities and the workings of the UN’s security management system.
In his opening remarks to the participants of the workshop, UNAMID Principal Deputy Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho expressed satisfaction for the opportunity for UNAMID and GoS security experts to sit together to discuss operational security procedures that both sides deal with on a daily basis.
“This was our plan for long to share more information with our partners in the government. We strongly believe that sharing and understanding of UN security mechanisms and guidelines by our friends would help them secure the UN staff and property,” said Anyidoho.
The primary responsibility for the security and protection of UN staff members and property rests with Sudan, the host government, Anyidoho emphasized.
The chief of the Sudanese police in North Darfur, General Ahmad Atta Al Manan Osman, expressed his government’s appreciation for the UNAMID initiative and spoke about traffic accidents committed by UNAMID staff.
Osman called upon the mission to find a just means of compensation for those affected, suggesting that insurance companies contracted by UNAMID open offices in Darfur.
General Al Tayeb, head of the National Security force in North Darfur, elaborated on the significance of conducting workshops and seminars between UNAMID and the security apparatus.
Internally displaced persons’ representatives from Abu Shouk and El-Salam camps in North Darfur met with Anyidoho on Sunday to complain about insecurity for residents of the camps.
UNAMID learned the same day that three suspected Janjaweed militia members stole 40 goats at Fatta Burno IDP Camp in North Darfur. One Fatta Burno resident was shot in the leg and evacuated to Kutum Hospital by local residents.
(ST)