UNAMID says good relations with Khartoum impacted Darfur positively

October 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The acting chief of Darfur peacekeeping operation said good relations with the Sudanese authorities impacted positively on the security situation in the restive region.

Acting Joint Special Representative, Henry K. Anyidoho made these remarks before the members of the Pan-African Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution who met in the Sudanese capital this week.

The UNAMID acting head who briefed the meeting about the security situation in Darfur said the Mission is working with all the parties stressing on the “healthy working relationship with the Government of Sudan.”

Anyidoho further said that, “as a consequence, the security situation on the ground had improved significantly as compared to the beginning of the conflict in 2003 and 2004.”

Khartoum fierce opposition to the deployment of UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, pushed the African officials in the joint mission to work hard to win the trust of Sudanese officials.

Before and during the take over between the African Mission in Sudan and the UNAMID, the two parties started to work together. The Tripartite mechanism dealing with the deployment of the hybrid mission in Darfur provided the two parties another occasion to boost their cooperation.

Anyidoho pointed out that the hybrid mission in Darfur has a mandate different from the war crimes court in The Hague (ICC), because it deals with security and protection of the civilians as well as establishing a conducive environment for the peace process.

Rodolphe Adada, the former UNAMID chief resigned from his position when the UN renewed him for six month only. The former foreign minister of the Republic of Congo had troubles with some UN officials in the Security Council because he spoke of law intensity conflict in Darfur.

The move was seen by Khartoum positively and highly appreciated.

(ST)