AU chief and new UNAMID head discuss peace in Darfur

February 3, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) — The African Union Commission chief, Jean Ping discussed today with new head of the hybrid peacekeeping mission Ibrahim Gambari ways to achieve peace and stability in the restive region of Darfur.

On Wednesday, UNAMID newly appointed head was formally received at the AU
Commission Head Quarters in Addis Ababa by the Chairperson of the
Commission, who assured him of his “full confidence and
support” to carry out his new and challenging assignment as the AU-UN Joint
Special Representative in Darfur and Head of UNAMID.

“Professor Gambari pledged to “uphold, defend and promote the hybrid nature of the Mission as a symbol of the AU-UN strategic partnership in supporting peace in Africa,” said the UNAMID spokesperson Noureddine Mezni who is currently in the Ethiopian capital.

“He promised to do everything possible to make UNAMID a successful Mission in order to
serve as a model for joint peacekeeping operations in Africa,” he further said.

Gambari told reporters last week in Khartoum he has to make peace first because there is no peace to keep. He pledged to contribute to the ongoing efforts to end the seven years conflict in western Sudan.

Both reiterated their commitment to work towards a lasting peace for Darfur and its people, Noureddine stressed.

Gambari pointed out that this meeting was very useful in
adding momentum to the peace process in Sudan in this critical year
which will witness the first general democratic elections in the
country.

(ST)