UNAMID spokesperson says Darfur peace process going forward
June 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The spokesman of the African Union -United Nations Mission (UNAMID) Noureddine Mezni said that there is intense diplomacy underway to energize the peace process in the war ravaged region of Darfur.
The UNAMID spokesperson stressed that the mission is dealing with all parties with neutrality and credibility to encourage all parties to negotiate adding that the Doha talks is an important venue for peace talks.
The Sudanese government and Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) engaged in talks since February sponsored by the Arab Gulf state of Qatar.
An agreement of goodwill and confidence building was signed but last week the talks collapsed without any tangible progress. Both sides are scheduled to meet at the end of July.
Mezni disclosed that the UNAMID head will meet some of the rebel groups to encourage them to join the peace talks that started in Doha.
The meetings will also include the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur who has so far rejected any peace talks before achieving security on the ground.
On the deployment of UNAMID Mezni said that the tripartite committee that includes Khartoum, AU and the UN will be held on July 12th in the Sudanese capital to discus issues related to the logistical support and any obstacles facing the peacekeepers.
He also expressed hope that the deployment of UNAMID will reach 92% by year end saying that the remaining 8% is comprised of logistical support such as helicopters and military vehicles.
Furthermore, Mezni revealed that the total number of the uniformed personnel in Darfur is 13,455 troops, 1,996 police officers, 975 Formed Police Units (FPU) in addition to 1016 international civilian personnel and 327 UN volunteers including 2,217 local Sudanese staff.
The UNAMID official also spoke on development projects which are being built in Darfur such as schools and hospitals while encouraging the displaced people to return to their home villages.
He said that the description of Darfur conflict by UNAMID as “low-intensity” “does not mean complete stability” and pointed out to the increasing activities of the banditries and thefts against the civilians including IDP’s and the personnel of UNAMID as well.
UN experts say 300,000 have died and 2.7 million been driven from their homes since rebels took up arms against Sudan’s government in 2003, accusing Khartoum of neglecting the region’s development. But Khartoum says 10,000 have died.
(ST)