UNAMID’s Adada says resisted pressures

September 6, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The outgoing head of the hybrid peacekeeping mission said in a farewell letter to Darfur people he resisted pressures several times to implement other agendas than the UNAMID mandate.

Rodolphe Adada, who was also the Joint AU-UN Special Representative, stepped down from his duties as UNAMID chief on August 31, after the UN Secretary General renewed his contract for only six months instead of one year.

The decision was seen as disapproval of his leadership to the world’s biggest peacekeeping operation particularly after describing the security situation in Darfur as “low-intensity conflict.”

“Although on several occasions intense pressure has been brought to bear on me, I have always refused to buckle under this pressure and implement any other agenda but that of the Security Council mandate,” said Adada in a farewell letter released today in Darfur.

“Despite the challenges and attempts to skew this mandate and the goals of the Mission, I have managed to stay the course and keep the mission at the service of peace and security in Darfur,” he added.

Under Adada was subjected to pressures from the Sudanese government which during longtime resisted to accept the no-African troops and provide the necessary facilities to the mission but also to the criticism from the international community for the slow deployment of troops.

Adada in his report to the UN Security Council suggested that the arrest warrant for the Sudanese president by the International Criminal Court complicated prospects for a political process. The 15 members Council and three permanent members particularly refused to suspend the ICC jurisdiction on Darfur crimes despite African and Arab demands.

“I shall continue to support the cause of peace in Darfur and be your voice in any position and mission I will be undertaking in the future,” said Adada who urged Darfur to work for peace.

(ST)