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.
- JSR Ibrahim Gambari (C) talking with the Deputy Joint AU-UN Chief Mediator, Azouz Ennifar (L), in presence of DJSRs Henry Anyidoho and Mohamed Yonis (Photo UNAMID)
Gambari who arrived last Friday to Khartoum after serving recently as top United Nations envoy for Myanmar said the UNAMID should now move from the focus on the deployment to the implementation of the core its mandate.
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.
(ST)
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