Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief 2009-03-02

 

 

Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief
2009-03-02

 

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, March 2, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNAMID Daily Media Brief

 

UNAMID senior officials meet with Sudanese Government at national level

UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Mr. Rodolphe Adada, today travelled to Nyala, South Darfur, and El Geneina, West Darfur, to meet with local authorities in an effort to engage the Government at the national and local levels on issues relating to security in Darfur.

 

During his visits, Mr. Adada met the Deputy Wali (Deputy Governor) of South Darfur, Dr. Farah Mustafa, and the Deputy Wali of El Geneina, Mr. Sanusi Bashar, to discuss the security situation in the respective areas and ways of addressing these issues. He expressed appreciation for the good relationship between UNAMID and the State Governments and reiterated UNAMID’s commitment to fulfil its mandate of protecting civilians in Darfur.

 

The Deputy Walis both reiterated their Governments’ commitment to facilitate the work of the Mission.

 

Similarly, UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR), Mr. Henry Anyidoho, yesterday met the Wali of North Darfur, Mr. Osman Mohammed Yousif Kibir, to discuss the security situation in that state. Mr. Kibir said the Government intends to take appropriate measures to address any security concerns that may arise following the International Criminal Court’s scheduled announcement about the Sudanese President on 4 March.

 

UNAMID welcomes additional Egyptian peacekeepers

The remainder of the Egyptian infantry battalion, consisting of 93 peacekeepers, started arriving in El Fasher, North Darfur today. The second batch, also consisting of 93 peacekeepers, is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, bringing the battalion’s total number to 850. The additional peacekeepers will join the rest of the battalion that arrived last November and was then deployed in Umm Kadada, North Darfur.

 

The principal duties of the battalion include conducting confidence-building security patrols and escorts for humanitarian convoys.

 

UN Security Council Resolution 1769 (2007) authorized the deployment of up to 19,555 military personnel, including 360 military observers and liaison officers, and up to 3,772 police personnel and 19 formed police units comprising up to 140 personnel each. The arrival of the 186 Egyptian peacekeepers will bring the Egyptian contribution to the Mission to 1,588 and the UNAMID military strength to 12,937.

 

Egypt is currently contributing to the mission with an infantry battalion, a signal company, an engineering company and a transport company. Another Egyptian infantry battalion is expected to join the Mission soon.

 

Shooting incident in El Fasher, North Darfur

UNAMID today received information that armed militiamen opened fire in Manawashi Market in El Fasher, North Darfur. The cause of the shooting is still unknown and UNAMID security is investigating the incident.

 

 

SOURCE : United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)