meeting held
on 6 April 2009, reviewed the situation in Darfur, in light of the briefings made by the
Joint Special Representative (JSR) in Darfur and Head of the United Nations/African
Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Mr. Rodolphe Adada, and Mr. Djibril Bassole,
Joint AU/United Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur, as well as the statements made
by the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to AU and the Permanent
Representative of Ethiopia, in her capacity as the current Chair of IGAD.
Council noted the progress made in the deployment of the military, police and civilian
components of UNAMID, and commended the personnel and leadership of the
Mission for their dedication and contribution to the promotion of lasting peace and
reconciliation in Darfur. Council noted the steady deployment of UNAMID military
component, which reached 67 percent as of 31 March 2009, and looks forward to the
completion of the process before the end of the year.
Council welcomed the existing cooperation between UNAMID and the Government
of Sudan. In this respect, Council noted the regular consultative meetings of the
Tripartite Committee between the Government of Sudan, the AU and the United
Nations, which have proved to be an effective mechanism in addressing all matters
relating to the deployment and operations of UNAMID.
Council called on all countries having the necessary capabilities to provide UNAMID
with the required key military enablers, including medium transport units, an aerial
reconnaissance unit and medium utility and tactical helicopters, to enhance the
capacity of the Mission and enable it carry out its mandate more effectively. Council
commended the Government of Ethiopia for having agreed to provide five tactical
helicopters.
Council stressed the need to take all necessary steps aiming at safeguarding the
progress made in the peace process. In this regard, Council called on all the parties
to engage in dialogue without pre-condition with a view to reaching a comprehensive
and lasting solution, to refrain from any military action, and to extend full cooperation
to the Joint Chief Mediator.
Council encouraged the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC), as a
means of ensuring the involvement of all the Darfurian populations’ stakeholders in
the search for peace and reconciliation, and called for increased financial support to
the DDDC process.
Council expressed concern at the risk of deterioration of the humanitarian situation in
Darfur. In this respect, Council stressed the importance of continued and adequate
delivery of humanitarian assistance in Darfur. Council underlined the need for all
concerned to take the steps required to meet the needs of the affected populations
and find appropriate solutions to the problems encountered in this respect.
Council expressed concern at the continuing precariousness of the security situation
in Darfur, including armed clashes of various nature, acts of banditry, kidnapping of
humanitarian workers, which pose additional challenges to the deployment of
UNAMID, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the overall efforts to promote
peace, security and stability in Darfur and the region as a whole.
Council noted with satisfaction the commencement of the work of the AU High Level
Panel on Darfur (AUPD), under the chairmanship of former President Thabo Mbeki,
with the convening of its inaugural meeting in Addis Ababa, on 18 and 19 March
2009, and the conduct of its first visit to Sudan, from 1 to 4 April 2009. Council
stressed the importance of the work of this independent Panel in the overall efforts
aimed at promoting peace, justice and reconciliation, and called on all concerned to
extend full cooperation to the Panel to facilitate the discharge of its mandate.
Council reiterated the relevant aspects of the Communiqués adopted at its 142