Abiodun Bashua appointed as UNAMID deputy joint special representative

September 17, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki moon and African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced on Wednesday the appointment of the Nigerian Abiodun Oluremi Bashua as deputy joint special representative for the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The hybrid mission said in a statement received by Sudan Tribune on Wednesday evening that Bashua, who was born in 1951 in Nigeria, would bring to the position “a wealth of knowledge on the political context and operating environment in Darfur”.

According to the statement, the new chief served in the mission since August 2009 at various senior levels, including as director of political affairs and most recently as director of the joint support and coordination mechanism.

“Mr. Bashua has extensive experience in several United Nations Peacekeeping operations in Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan”, the statement reads.

He holds a postgraduate diploma in French Language from the University of Besancon, France and a Bachelor of Science honors degree in Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

The former UNAMID chief, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, had resigned from his position last week.

African sources told Sudan Tribune more than a week ago of Chambas’s intended departure from the joint mission. However, it was not clear why the Ghanaian diplomat decided to resign.

The UN chief launched an internal investigation in July after allegations that the UNAMID had been covering up crimes by Sudanese government militia against civilians in Darfur.

“These allegations cover a wide range of issues, including inaccurate reporting of the facts on the ground in Darfur, specific instances of failure to protect civilians and accusations of mismanagement of UNAMID,” said Ban in a statement issued last July.

The UN chief asked that the internal review of UNAMID’s performance be completed within one month.

His move took place after a demand by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and several members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to probe the accusations.

In a report published by the American magazine Foreign Policy in April, former UNAMID spokesperson Aicha El-Basri gave accounts of several incidents between August 2012 and the end of 2013 where the joint operation denied or ignored attacks carried out by Sudanese militia against civilians.

Chambas was appointed as the head of Darfur peacekeeping mission in December 2013. He is also tasked with the peace file and serves as a joint mediator.

(ST)