Sudan’s FM and AU official discuss UNAMID’s exit strategy
December 13, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign ministry Sunday has discussed with the African Union Commission (AUC) the ongoing arrangements to resume the work of the tripartite team tasked with developing the exit strategy of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The committee was expected to sign an agreement last May. But in June, Sudanese officials said that the UN retracted from an agreement reached by the joint team on an exit strategy.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters following the meeting of the foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the deputy chairperson of the AUC Erastus Mwencha that the two sides discussed ways for activating communications between Sudan and the AU.
According to al-Sadiq, the tripartite committee is expected to meet in Addis Ababa in January on the sidelines of the AU summit.
The hybrid mission has been deployed in Darfur since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the western Sudan’s region.
It is the world’s second largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.
MEETING NEWLY APPOINTED UNAMID’S OFFICIAL
Meanwhile, Sudan’s foreign ministry undersecretary Abdel-Ghani al-Naem Sunday has received the newly appointed Deputy Joint Special Representative for UNAMID, Bintou Keita.
Al-Naem stressed his government’s readiness to continue cooperation with the UNAMID in order to achieve its mandate through activating the work of the tripartite committee in order to carry out a gradual and smooth exit from Darfur.
He underscored the need to direct efforts of all parties to end the suffering of the people in Darfur.
For her part, Keita also stressed the importance of the joint work in order to help the UNAMID fulfill its mandate, underlining that all parties should to work to achieve a safe exit for the mission from Darfur.
She also called on the mission and the Sudanese government to work according to a joint and continued communication strategy.
Keita, who was appointed last October, has a long experience with more than 25 years of service in the United Nations. Her most recent positions include Ebola Crisis Manager for Sierra Leone and Chief of Staff for the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response.
She also served in several senior management and leadership functions with the UNICEF or UNDP in different African countries.
(ST)