Discussions on UNAMID exit strategy to resume soon

March 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – A tripartite team including Sudanese government, African Union and United Nations will resume next week talks on UNAMID’s eventual exit from Darfur region.

Last February the three parties reached an agreement on the terms of reference for the exit strategy.

Also, the hybrid mission undertook a review of its strategic priorities and decided to focus on three fields: the peace mediation which is now given to the AUHIP panel, protection of civilians and humanitarian assistance, and support to local conflict mediation.

In the upcoming discussions, which will be held in El-Fasher, the joint group is expected to prepare the exit strategy of UNAMID from Darfur and then submit it to the three parties for approval net April.

Ambassador Siraj Eldin Hamid, Director of International Cooperation and Organisations department at the foreign ministry Saturday told the official news agency SUNA that the report will be submitted to the UN Security Council once it is endorsed by the three parties.

On 28 February, the UNAMID announced new abolition of jobs in order to realign its resources and staffing to serve the achievement of the Mission’s revised strategic priorities.

The mission, which now operates in Darfur since seven years, said the conflict dynamics have changed and the review of its strategic priorities should reflects this new reality.

The decision to support local mediation efforts between communities comes as result of the intensification of inter-communal conflicts in the region and the weakness of local dispute resolution mechanisms .

(ST)