Hybrid peacekeeping mission says ready to monitor Darfur ceasefire
November 27, 2008 (EL FASHER) — The African Union -United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) reiterated its readiness to monitor a ceasefire in war-torn region, a press statement said.
During the meeting, the head of the joint mission, Adada, reaffirmed it the willingness of the hybrid force to monitor a unilateral ceasefire announced by the Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir on November 12. He further stressed the importance of bringing all the warring parties to ensure the effectiveness of the mechanism.
While the top of the Sudanese delegation, Salah Gosh, reiterated his government’s commitment to the cessation of hostilities announced by the President and expressed keenness to see all parties committed to that.
The two parties have agreed to conduct preliminary technical dialogue on the establishment of a ceasefire mechanism which will be broadly discussed once agreement on a ceasefire is reached by all concerned parties.
Addressing the closing session of a large consultation on Darfur conflict, Forum of Sudan’s People, the Sudanese President announced an immediate ceasefire in Darfur and called for a campaign to disarm militias which have been ravaging the western Sudan region of Darfur.
However to make it effective Bashir added “provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is put into action and observed by all involved parties.”
The Sudanese government and rebel groups signed a ceasefire agreement on April 8, 2004 in Ndjamena (Chad). It was followed by another accord signed on 28 May, 2004 in Addis Ababa related to establishment of a CeaseFire Commission (CFC) and deployment of observers in the Darfur.
But the CFC collapsed after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in Abuja on May 5, 2006 after the escalation of hostilities in the region. In a first time Khartoum rejected the presence of the non-signatories in the commission and arrested rebel representatives in the CFC by the end of December 2007.
The meeting also discussed the situation of Kalma camp which was attacked by the Sudanese troops last August where 33 people killed during the raid.
The UNAMID emphasized the need for mutual consultations concerning the security in the camp before any action is taken. Both sides have agreed to continue working together to avoid compromising the IDP status of the camp.
Sudanese government and UNAMID agreed following Kalma incident to set up a joint mechanism called Darfur Security Integrated Task Force (DSITF). Wednesday meeting in Khartoum was the first since the establishment of the joint board in September 2008.
(ST)