New UNAMID chief says supporting peace tops his priorities for Darfur
January 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The new head of the hybrid peacekeeping operation and joint representative in Darfur disclosed to the media that supporting the ongoing efforts to settle the seven-year conflict tops his priorities for Darfur.
The Nigerian diplomat said at the top of his priorities comes the need to support the peacemaking process led by the joint mediator Djibril Bassole and the recent initiative of the former South African President Thabo Mbeki to end Darfur conflict; adding he would suggest some idea on how to harmonize between them.
Mbeki who was last week in Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials met with Gambari before to leave Sudan.
The chairman of the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD) Thabo Mbeki had been appointed by the African Union to seek ways to achieve justice in Darfur but he came up with a holistic plan to resolve Darfur conflict. The move pushed the UN Security Council and UN Secretary General to stress that Mbeki’s work should not undermine the process led by the joint mediator.
The Special Joint Representative who was speaking following a meeting with the President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir said UNAMID second priority under his leadership is to enhance and contribute to the shaky security of civilians in Darfur “So that conditions will be created for people from IDP camps to return to their homes,” he added.
He also underscored that such move can pave the way for recovery and development.
The third priority for the new joint special envoy is to improve bilateral relations between Sudan and Chad “Because if that relation is improved and the two countries are at peace, this will contribute significantly to peace in Darfur”. Gambari emphasized he has the full support of the Sudanese government.
On Friday the joint representative is expected fly to the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa to meet with AU commission leadership and attend the organization’s annual summit.
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silake comba
New UNAMID chief says supporting peace tops his priorities for Darfur
Mr. Ibrahim Gambari
First of all, you are welcome in Darfur among your people. You are expected to add more to the enormous efforts made by your colleagues since the begining of the peace operation in Darfur in mid 2004. To anyone who has been observing the situation in Darfur closely can hardly find difficulty in judging that the kind of difference has been made by the Darfur peace mission in its various phases has been enormous.Its beyond dispute that these men have courageously challenged that serious security and humanitarian situation in Darfur when they firsty started their noble mission in 2004 in the form of the African Union Cease-Fire Commission ( AUCFC ).Rapid action to contain tension, serious and courageous involvement in dispute resolution, and quick reaction to violence were some of the salient characteristics of the Cease-Fire Commission.The rapid deployment of of Military Group Sites in formerly unaccessible remote areas added to these charatersitics helped in the containment of violence and alleviation of suffering through facilitating humaniraian aid delivery. The result has been reducing losses in lives, particularly among civilians, stopping the stream of destruction and restoring hope for the vulnerable. Security always remains the priority. Much has been done for security and much more needs to be done. The mere presence of peace-keepers is a source of confidence and security and it is the guarantee for the effective delivery of basic needs for the affected, particularly in remote areas.Recently,I have been lucky to have a tour in almost most areas of west Darfur and some areas of North Darfur. Although the situation compared with sometime ago, can be described as relatively calm, it is by no means secure, particularly for civilans, whether in terms of lives or livelihood, including physical security. While security in areas such as Zalinjei stands in need of reinforce, such areas as KRENIK in West Darfur and other populated areas along the way between Zalinjei and Krenik and probably El-Geneina are really in need of close and physical presence of UNAMID peace-keepers.Security organs in those areas either unable or unwilling to provide security or protection to the population when they are subjected to assaults.Security is needed not only for safety of lives but also for the delivery of basic needs for life. I still emphasize that people like HAWAYA in KRENIK urgently need the presence of UNAMID peace-keepers, their mere presence!!! so that they can be able to feel normal life free from fear, intimidation and horror, to feel that they are humanbeings with dignity. Expanssion of mission presence all over the region is extremely important for restoration of both trust and confidence and the necessary recovery and development for returning toward normal life.
Slake Ali Comba, El-Fasher, Darfur [email protected]