Darfur tripartite mechanism to discuss on UNAMID Monday

November 14, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Officials of the African Unions, United Nations and Sudanese government will meet Monday to discuss issues related to the deployment and functioning of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation (UNAMID).

The hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur took over from a smaller AU mission in January 2008. Sudan had been opposed in a first time to the deployment of a UN force but accepted it stipulating to have a majority of African troops.

Established in 2008, the tripartite mechanism initially was seen as a tool to build confidence between the three parties but also to facilitate the establishment of the UNAMID and to boost its cooperation with the Sudanese authorities.

In its seventh meeting to take place in Khartoum next Monday, the tripartite panel will continue to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers, the launch of UNAMID radio in Darfur and recruitment of Sudanese staff, said Nourredine Mezni today.

UNAMID is expecting the deployment of more than 2000 troops in the coming two months from-Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Ethiopia and South Africa.

The current number of military forces deployed in Darfur is around 15000 peacekeepers representing almost 75 per cent of the authorized number of 19,555 military personnel.

During the coming weeks the largest UN peacekeeping mission will receive five tactical helicopters from Ethiopia for the first since two years. The hybrid mission still in dire need of 19 aircrafts including Medium Utility Helicopters and fixed wing surveillance unit in order to have efficient mobility in this huge area of Darfur -equal to the size of France…

The official spokesperson of the mission told Sudan Tribune the mechanism will also review the UNAMID contributions to improve the infrastructures in Darfur.

The UNAMID is involved in many development projects in the arid and restive region as development of water resources and the completion of the new airport at El Geneina.

Among the issues to be tackled by the meeting also there will be the recruitment of national staff. Currently there are 2,486 Sudanese staff working with UNAMID representing 72 per cent of the authorized national posts. Further there are some 3226 individual contractors working for the mission.

“We have embarked on outreach activities to attract wider and more diverse candidates, said Mezni who spoke about the ongoing efforts to diversify local staff and achieve gender balance.

“We have received about 16,000 applications from diverse groups” he added.

The tripartite meeting will be co-chaired by UN Under Secretary-General for Field Support, Susana Malcorra, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra and Sudan’s Under–Secretary of Foreign Affairs while UNAMID delegation will be led by the Acting Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho.

(ST)