US send technical team to Darfur ahead of Gration’s visit
November 11, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The US sent a technical team to Sudan to assess the situation on the ground in Darfur as well as aid in areas of security and stability, Sudanese media reported.
The delegation led by Raja Jandahila met with Sudanese Undersecretary for foreign affairs Mutrif Sideeg and discussed the US humanitarian aid in order to evaluate it and consider what the US can provide in the domain of security and stability in Sudan within the practical implementation of Washington’s new strategy towards Sudan.
It is expected that the team will fly to South Sudan capital of Juba after Khartoum to tackle the same issues. They have also paid a brief visit to North Darfur capital city of El-Fasher and will also stop at South Darfur.
The team’s arrival comes ahead of a visit by US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration who said in a webcast yesterday at the White House that will travel to Khartoum, Abyei and Darfur.
In a related subject the pro-government Al-Rayaam newspaper reported that the US Chargé d’Affaires in Sudan, Robert Whitehead as saying that his government’s policy supports Sudan’s unity.
An “informed source” told the newspaper that Whitehead made the remarks at a dinner banquet attended by businessmen and diplomats that his country’s recently unveiled strategy toward Khartoum, emphasizes that Sudan should not be a safe haven for terrorism.
Whitehead also downplayed the statements by made First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on urging his citizens to vote for secession as being “similar to a great extent to political statements made before elections”.
He also said that the new US strategy “came to end dualism inside the administration on dealing with Khartoum” and noted that the US spent more than $5 billion in the form of aid and assistance to Sudan during the past 10 years and announced that Washington will be providing assistance to the value of $100 million to support elections in Sudan.
Whitehead expressed hope in his talk to the source that the American embassy in Khartoum would be opened next February. He said it would provide all consular services and services related to English language examinations.
The US administration announced last month that it will use a mix of “incentives and pressure” to ensure that the Khartoum government denies a haven to terrorists, implements a 2005 deal to end a decades-old civil war in the south and seeks peace in the conflict in Darfur, where more than 300,000 people have died since 2003 and another 2.7 million have been driven from their homes.
(ST)