Darfur peace chief joins UN-AU security councils’ tour

May 16, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The head of peacekeeping mission in Darufr, UNAMID Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada took part in a joint meeting by the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to discuss Darfur crisis.

During today’s consultative meeting, a follow-up to two previous gatherings in 2007 and 2008, the UNSC and the PSC reviewed, among others, situations in Somalia, Sudan, and the relations between Sudan and Chad as well as the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Africa.

The talks Saturday focused on Sudan and its western region of Darfur.

The U.N.-AU mission in Darfur is made up of 15,000 mostly African peacekeepers.

Adada had a series of consultations with several members of both councils. He also met with AU Chairperson Jean Ping and Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramatane Lamamra. He discussed with them the latest developments in Darfur.

Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson of UNAMID told Sudan Tribune “some members of the two councils underlined the urgency of reaching an agreement in Doha on the cessation of hostilities. US Representative Susan Rice stressed the necessity of giving UNAMID the role of monitoring and supporting any agreement reached in this regard between the parties.”

Adada during the consultations expressed the readiness of UNAMID to play this important role, potentially leading to a comprehensive ceasefire and creating a conducive environment for the success of the peace process.

According to the UNAMID spokesperson, Adada told his interlocutors that UNAMID has already its plans for the monitoring of any agreement on the cessation of hostilities.

The UNAMID official further highlighted the need for cessation of hostilities between Sudan and Chad, which accuse each other of sending proxy rebel fighters into each others’ territory. Chad admitted to undertaking air strikes yesterday in Darfur but Sudan denies backing the rebel invasion of Chad from Sudanese territory.

“There can be no solution to Darfur without normalization between the two countries, Chad and Sudan. They are neighbors, they have to coexist,” said Mezni.

He also said that UNAMID has not received 24 helicopters it had requested to try to protect civilians in the vast arid region. “Air mobility is vital to do that job,” Mezni said.

Recently the United States turned down a direct appeal for the helicopters from UNAMID Force Commander Martin Agwai

UK’s Ambassador to the United Nations, John Sawers, told reporters the meeting reviewed the situation in Sudan Darfur with a view to finding out ways to continue the humanitarian assistances to the troubled region.

PSC Chairperson, Ambassador Epiphanie Kabushemeye Ntamwana said on his part that that the AU wanted to draw lessons from UNSC to resolve the situation in Somali and Sudan and is also keen to work jointly with it.

The meeting at AU Headquarters today is part of the Security Council members’ week-long trip to Africa, which will also take them to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Liberia.

The Ambassadors of France, Uganda, the United Kingdom and the United States will lead or co-lead the different segments of the trip , which wraps up on 21 May.

Last June, the 15-member body visited Djibouti, Sudan, Chad, DRC and Côte d’Ivoire last June during a 10-day trip to the continent.

(ST)