AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION DONATES SUPPLIES TO WOMEN’S PRISON

The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today donated supplies to a women's prison in the western Sudanese region.

Following a request made last month for support by the detention centre in Khanaga, the operation, known as UNAMID, has contributed items, including cooking utensils and bedding. It also has approved the construction of accommodations for female prisoners.

Today's donation to the prison in North Darfur state is a manifestation of UNAMID's commitment to bolstering national institutions to allow them to better respond to people's needs, the mission said in a press release.

Earlier this month, staff from UNAMID's human rights and rule of law sections completed a four-day training course on human rights standards and prison management for 30 corrections officials working in North Darfur.

The training, the first of its kind in North Darfur, included such topics as the humane treatment of prisoners, particularly minors, pre-trial detainees and female prisoners.

The course, held in El Fasher, was funded by Switzerland through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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AFRICAN UNION-UN FORCE HOSTS ROUND-TABLE TALKS ON DARFUR PEACE PROCESS

The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) convened a round-table discussion with the signatories to the 2006 pact that aims to bring peace to the Sudanese region.

In yesterday's talks, Rodolphe Adada, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative and head of the mission, urged all parties to support the ongoing peace process "because that is the only way to go in order to give a new lease of life to the [Darfur Peace Agreement] and, by extension, to the people of Darfur."

Some 300,000 people have been killed and an estimated 2.7 million others displaced from their homes in Darfur since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups.

Mr. Adada yesterday hailed the signatories and participants of the Darfur Peace Agreement for their commitment to dialogue, peace, reconciliation and development since the pact was signed in 2006 between the Government of Sudan and rebel groups in Abuja, Nigeria.

"Those who embraced peace deserve to reap its dividends," he said.

The pact, he said, paved the way for the deployment of UNAMID, which has achieved success in protecting civilians and supporting aid agencies as they deliver humanitarian assistance, among others.

Participants, including representatives from the Government and groups such as the SLM Free Will and Popular Forces for Rights and Democracy, agreed that while progress has been made, more remains to be done in implementing the pact. They also called on the international community to play a more active role.
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JORDANIAN POLICE UNIT BOOSTS PRESENCE OF UN-AFRICAN UNION FORCE IN DARFUR

An advance party of Jordanian police officers arrived in Darfur today ahead of a larger deployment due later this month to strengthen the efforts of the joint United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in the strife-torn Sudanese region.

The 46 members of the Jordanian formed police unit (FPU) will be responsible for setting up equipment and accommodation in preparation for the remaining 280 personnel scheduled to arrive on 28 August.

The entire unit will be divided into two and deployed to El Fasher and Kabkabiya in North Darfur state.

FPUs are comprised of police officers who have received specialized training in high-risk operations. Their main task is the protection of civilians, including through conducting community policing, especially in camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs).

They also assist UN agencies in the delivery of humanitarian aid in Darfur, where some 2.7 million people have been displaced from their homes over the course of six years of conflict pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups.

UNAMID expects to have 19 FPUs once it reaches full strength. Jordan is the fifth country to contribute a unit, following Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Nigeria. The force is expecting the arrival of a Senegalese FPU later this month.

Established by the Security Council in 2007, the mission is expected to have a total of 26,000 military and police personnel at full deployment.
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BAN WELCOMES AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE POLITICAL CRISIS IN MADAGASCAR

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached in Madagascar and urged all sides to work together to ensure that a new government of national unity is quickly installed and a process leading to credible elections can be established.

Mr. Ban "congratulates the four leaders – Andry Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy – for committing to a peaceful transition under a government of national unity," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

The statement follows the deal reached yesterday during talks in Maputo, Mozambique, that were mediated by that country's former president Joaquim Chissano and a joint team comprising the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Organization of the Francophonie.

Mr. Ban urged the leaders in the Indian Ocean country to agree quickly on the composition of the government of national unity "and on the establishment of the institutions of the transition leading to credible elections and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law."

The Secretary-General thanked Mr. Chissano and the other mediators for their efforts and joined them in calling on "all political actors in Madagascar to build on the Maputo consensus and to work for the prompt implementation of the agreements."

Since the start of the year Madagascar has been engulfed by political tensions, which have led to widespread violence and killings and numerous politically motivated arrests.

Mr. Ravalomanana resigned as president in early March amid a dispute with Mr. Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, and now the leader of the country.
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AFRICA MUST TAKE ‘BOLD AND SWIFT’ ACTION TO TACKLE FINANCIAL CRISIS – UN

Africa must act swiftly and boldly to mitigate the impact of the current financial and economic crises impacting the continent, according to Government ministers at a United Nations-backed meeting.

The ministerial statement issued at the end of the gathering in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, reaffirms commitments to proceed with economic reforms, boost regulation of financial institutions and improve debt management, among other steps, said Abdoulie Janneh, Executive of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The 6-7 June ECA and African Union (AU) event was attended by representatives of more than 40 African countries, mostly at the ministerial level.

Mr. Janneh acknowledged that the economic crisis is a setback, but also provides an opportunity for innovation, self-reliance and practical solutions.
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HAVE MEDIATION SKILLS, WILL TRAVEL: UN’S ROAMING MEDIATION TEAM TERMED A SUCCESS

The United Nations special on-call mediation team has helped respond to sticky problems all over the globe in their first year – and should do more, according to a top official at the world body.

So far, the Standby Team of Mediation Experts, established last year to help the UN respond more quickly to crises, has been asked to help with the Organization's peacemaking and preventive diplomacy in nine areas in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, said Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios.

"Responding effectively to peacemaking opportunities depends on getting to the field quickly with the right kind of expertise," said Mr. Menkerios. "The Standby Team is helping us to do just that."

The six-member team "should be used more widely as a resource by envoys in the field," he said at a luncheon honouring departing members of the team who serve one year terms.

During its first 15 months, the Team has helped in Kenya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, Cyprus, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal and Somalia. The experts have also facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and their clients have included not just UN political envoys, but also peacekeeping missions, UN Resident Coordinators and the African Union (AU).

The Norwegian Government funded the initial 15 month-pilot phase of the Standby Team and has agreed to provide continued financing.
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UN COMMITTED TO HELP AFRICAN NATIONS PURSUE PEACE, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT -- BAN

UN COMMITTED TO HELP AFRICAN NATIONS PURSUE PEACE, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT -- BAN
New York, May 25 2009 10:00AM
Spotlighting some of the major challenges facing African nations today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to supporting the people of the continent in building durable peace, security and sustainable development.

Mr. Ban made the pledge in a <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sgsm12260.doc.htm>message for Africa Day, which marks the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union (AU). The annual event serves as an opportunity to highlight Africa's achievements as well as take stock of remaining challenges.

Drawing attention to the devastating effect of the ongoing economic downturn on the continent, the Secretary-General urged the international community not to step back from its commitments.

"At the very time when Africa has achieved several years of sustained economic growth an
d improved stability, the global economic crisis is having a severe impact. We must protect the continent's poorest and most vulnerable people," he stated.

Another threat to Africa's development is climate change, he said, emphasizing the importance of countries to "seal a deal" and reach agreement in Copenhagen this December on a new global pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"If we work hard, and agree on deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, we can avoid some of the worst consequences -- but not all of them," said Mr. Ban. "That is why we must also support adaptation, especially for the poor, who will suffer first -- and worst."

The UN chief also pointed to what he described as "a troubling re-emergence of unconstitutional changes of government" on the continent.

"This reminds us not only of the need to support democratization, but to strengthen Africa's capacity to maintain peace and security," he stressed.

Toward that goal, he said, the UN Security Council is buil
ding a closer working relationship with the AU Peace and Security Council. The world body is also moving ahead with the UN Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme in support of the AU, especially in providing technical support for AU peacekeeping.

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