FRESH ROUND OF UN-BACKED DARFUR PEACE TALKS TO START NEXT MONTH

United Nations-backed mediation talks aimed at resolving the long-running conflict in Darfur between the Sudanese Government and the region's armed movements will resume late next month, it was announced today.

The talks will not start until the last week of October, given the time needed for the many armed movements to complete discussions on their possible unification for the peace process, according to a communiqué issued by the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force in Darfur (known as UNAMID).

Today's communiqué follows consultations in Doha, between Djibril Bassolé, the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, and Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Qatar, which has been sponsoring the mediation efforts.

Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud have invited the armed movements to take part in a capacity-building workshop in Doha in early October so they can discuss issues related to the peace process, including how to improve security for Darfur's inhabitants and how to boost socio-economic development in the region.

Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud have also agreed to organize a civil society forum in Doha before the start of final peace talks to allow the many Darfurian communities to discuss peace and reconciliation efforts.

Fighting has raged across the western Sudanese region since 2003, pitting the rebel movements against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen. All sides stand accused of human rights abuses and an estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past six years and another 2.7 million people forced to leave their homes.

The efforts of mediators have been hampered by the fragmentation of the rebel movements into many different, smaller groups, making it harder for them to adopt a unified position during any negotiations.

In February, representatives of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed the Doha Goodwill Agreement with the Sudanese Government in an initial step designed to build momentum towards an enduring peace pact.

Today Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud welcomed recent initiatives in Libya and by the United States envoy, General Scott Gration, to try to unify the armed movements, and voiced hope that they would lead to greater cohesion among the rebels.

Meanwhile, the outgoing head of UNAMID has urged all Darfurians to come together to resolve the conflict in their region.

In an open letter to the people of Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, who is stepping down as the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, said he remained convinced that "our collective efforts will bear fruit in the near future and the situation in Darfur will gradually evolve from armed conflict to cessation of hostilities to achievement of peace and finally reach the realm of sustainable development."

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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DARFUR: AFRICAN-UN MISSION SETS UP UNIT TO INVESTIGATE GENDER-BASED CRIMES

The police component of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur has established a special investigations unit to monitor and report on crimes involving sexual and gender-based violence, a prevalent problem in the western Sudanese region.

The peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, announced today that the seven-member unit has been set up in response to the high rates of sexual and gender-based violence recorded across Darfur in the past two years. Staff members have received specialist training for dealing with such cases.

The new unit will work to encourage victims of violence to report incidents to local law enforcement authorities, reduce the stigmatization of sexual abuse victims and help to rehabilitate victims.

It also aims to support local law enforcement agencies as they investigate a range of cases, including child abuse, child abandonment, prostitution, human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual harassment.

UNAMID said the unit would work closely with the police, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other agencies that deal with gender-related issues.

Sexual and gender-based violence remains widespread across Darfur, which has been beset by conflict and displacement for six years. An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and about 2.7 million others forced to leave their homes, with many women and children vulnerable to violent attacks, particularly when they are searching for scarce firewood.

Meanwhile, staff from the mission's human rights and rule of law sections have completed a four-day training course on human rights standards and prison management for 30 corrections officials working in North Darfur state.

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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MILITARY CHIEFS OF UN PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN AFRICA CALL FOR MORE TROOPS, EQUIPMENT

The military chiefs of the United Nations' largest and most complex peacekeeping operations urged Member States today to provide the troops and equipment necessary to carry out their missions in the war-ravaged regions of Darfur in western Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"We have had a challenging time to meet all our mandated tasks because of the issue of deployment and lack of capabilities," General Martin Luther Agwai, Force Commander of the joint African Union-UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID), told reporters in New York.

The Security Council authorized the deployment of UNAMID to quell fighting and protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and some 2.7 million others forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups.

UNAMID has stabilized the situation in Darfur, despite having less than 70 per cent of the authorized number of troops under the 2007 Security Council resolution setting up the force, said Gen. Agwai.

In addition, "we have been able to be one of the best sources of authenticated information of what is happening in Darfur," he said. "We have come a long way, but there are still a lot of challenges, no doubt about it."

At current strength UNAMID is unable to provide full-time security to all of the makeshift camps sheltering the millions of people who have fled the violence engulfing the region over the years.

"We have not been able to have a 24/7 protection coverage in most of the IDP [internally displaced persons] camps," said Gen. Agwai. "We have prioritized the most vulnerable and volatile camps."

He noted that some of the IDP camps have 90,000 to 100,000 people taking refuge in tents and makeshift shelters.

"The bigger the camps the more volatile and problematic they are and those are the ones with a 24/7 UNAMID presence," he said, including patrols that protect women when out collecting firewood.

With full deployment the mission would be more mobile and have a further reach, "instead of [looking like] very small ink spots on blotting paper. [We currently have] 32 spots, but we're beginning to expand and spread."

Gen. Agwai expected 92 per cent deployment by the end of the year, but stressed that there is little "point having boots without capabilities. Ethiopia has now pledged five [attack] helicopters to the mission … [but] to the best of my knowledge nobody has pledged one utility helicopter to the mission."

As a sign of UNAMID contributing to an increasing sense of security in the region, Gen. Agwai said that the incidence of rapes and assaults has been cut. "The number of people dying because of the crisis is down. The figure is now ranging from about 120 to 150 deaths in a month and not hundreds or thousands in a month as in the past."

The UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, known as MONUC, is effectively engaged in three separate military operations, said the operations Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye.

MONUC is supporting the Congolese army (FARDC) in an offensive against the notorious Ugandan rebel militia, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on one front; a group of remnant armed groups in Ituri province in northeastern DRC; and a Rwandan rebel force, known as the FDLR, in North and South Kivu.

"Our mission is so far the largest peacekeeping mission deployed around the world and we are facing all the challenges that peacekeeping have to face today," Lt.-Gen. Gaye told the press briefing. "This means the use of force, the protection of civilians and so on and so forth."

The latest bout of fighting between DRC troops and the rebel FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) and their local allies uprooted a further 35,000 people in South Kivu last month, bringing the total displaced there since January to 536,000, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). More than 1.8 million people are now internally displaced in the DRC's east.

Lt.-Gen. Gaye stressed the drastic need for extra troops on the ground to implement MONUC's protection mandate. "Everything is on track but unfortunately the first boots are still expected."

He said that MONUC is slated to soon receive a Bangladeshi battalion, an Egyptian battalion, a Jordanian special force company, an Egyptian special force company and a Bangladeshi engineer company.

"Unfortunately, we are yet to have the 18 helicopters that have been authorized by the [Security] Council," he added.
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JOINT AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY DISCUSSES BETTER SECURITY WITH DARFUR’S DISPLACED

The head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur met today with leaders of a camp housing some of the region's displaced to discuss improved security measures following the killing of a camp leader and his wife earlier this week.

The mission, known as UNAMID, has been monitoring the situation in the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the wake of the murders of Chief Umda Saroukh and his wife, who were shot by unknown armed men at their house near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

Rodolphe Adada, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative and head of UNAMID, noted that the mission had prioritized community policing on its agenda and the camp's residents needed to extend meaningful cooperation in the form of a joint approach to security and exchange of information inside the camp.

He urged unity among the leaders, stressing that their needs, challenges, concerns and interests were the same as those of the general population in the camps.

"UNAMID could only work well with a coherent and united team of leaders," he told the leaders.

Mr. Adada added that UNAMID was not in Darfur to replace the Sudanese Government, but to work with it to improve the safety and security of all Darfurians, especially the displaced.

An estimated 2.6 million people have been displaced in Darfur since fighting began in 2003, pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups, and as many as 4.7 million people have been left totally dependent on humanitarian aid.

While expressing gratitude to UNAMID for its services to the IDP community, including education, the Umdas voiced their concern about their own protection and ongoing criminal activities in the camp, among other issues.

They also raised concerns that UNAMID's mandate did not extend to executive policing powers of arrest and detention. Further, the leaders requested that UN patrols work closely with them in deploying patrol vehicles to problematic areas in the camp.

The Umdas and UNAMID Police will further explore proposals put forward at today's meeting.

Meanwhile, the mission announced that the first batch of the Ethiopian Infantry Battalion comprising 151 personnel arrived today in Darfur, and another 151 are scheduled to follow tomorrow.

The remaining members of the infantry battalion – totalling some 800 soldiers – are expected to be deployed in September or October, helping UNAMID to advance toward its goal of 97 per cent deployment by the end of this year.

Established by the Security Council in 2007, the mission is expected to have a total of 19,555 military personnel at full deployment.

In a related development, the Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Djibril Bassolé, is in Tripoli, Libya, where he is meeting a number of Darfur rebel movements willing to engage in peace talks with the Sudanese Government.
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FIRST BATCH OF INFANTRY TROOPS FROM BURKINA FASO JOIN AFRICAN-UN FORCE IN DARFUR

New York, Aug 4 2009 1:00PM
The first infantry soldiers from Burkina Faso arrived today in Darfur to serve with the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission to the troubled Sudanese region, as more blue helmets from three other countries prepare to join the force soon as well.

An advance party of 134 soldiers arrived in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, with another 133 scheduled to arrive next Tuesday, according to the mission (known as <"http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=888&ctl=Details&mid=1062&ItemID=5043">UNAMID). The remaining members of the infantry battalion – totalling more than 800 soldiers – are expected to be deployed by mid-September in El Geneina and Foro Baranga in West Darfur state.

Today's arrival means UNAMID now has 13,651 military personnel deployed across the region, or nearly 70 per cent of the authorized number of staff under the 2007 Security Council resolution setting up the force.

The mission also reported today that more troops from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt are expected to be deployed in Darfur later this month, further boosting its strength.

The Security Council authorized the deployment of UNAMID to try to quell fighting and protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 have been killed and some 2.7 million others displaced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups.

AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPERS IN DARFUR PRESENT FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur has provided a financial boost of almost $250,000 for the construction of classrooms, toilets and water pumps in the violence-ridden region of Sudan.

Henry Anyidoho, Deputy Joint Special Representative of the AU-UN mission (UNAMID), presented the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) funding, which will also cover the construction of an x-ray wing for a local hospital, to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday on his visit to South Darfur.

The visit took in the Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), where a school has been built with the QIPs funding.

Mr. Anyidoho inspected progress on work carried out by the UNAMID Chinese engineering company – including the construction of two water dams – following recent heavy flooding in the makeshift camp.

At the IDP camp, he met with sheikhs and other traditional leaders to discuss the living conditions and heard complaints over the absence of basic necessities for survival, such as food and water, amenities and social services.

The camp leaders also raised concerns over the ongoing operation of armed militias in the area, land occupation, guarantees of collective and individual compensation for IDPs and bringing to justice those accused of war crimes among other issues.

Meanwhile, UNAMID has reported that the security situation in Darfur is relatively calm except for some minor banditry and car-jacking in North Darfur.

The mission was also informed yesterday that chief Umda of Abu Shouk IDP camp and his wife had been shot by unknown armed men at their house near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. UNAMID military and police are monitoring the situation in the camp and Sudanese Government police are investigating the incidence.
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WOMEN’S CENTRES RE-OPEN IN DARFUR WITH HELP FROM AU-UN MISSION

Female internally displaced persons (IDPs) will again be able to learn job skills, take literacy classes and receive awareness programmes on reproductive health after the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) helped reactivate women's centres at an IDP camp in the Sudanese region.

UNAMID's Gender Advisory Unit has worked with the North Darfur state Ministry of Social Affairs to relaunch the centres at the Abu Shouk IDP camp on the outskirts of the state capital, El Fasher. The centres, which will be run by a local non-governmental organization (NGO), had closed last year.

The Abu Shouk centres are expected to carry out several activities aimed at helping women gain livelihoods, including tailoring, candle-making and handcrafts. There will also be adult literacy classes, and awareness programmes on women's reproductive health, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

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TOP UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY MEETS DARFUR REBEL LEADER

TOP UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY MEETS DARFUR REBEL LEADER
New York, Jun 11 2009 6:00PM
The head of the joint United Nations–African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has reiterated that there is no military solution to the problems facing the strife-torn Sudanese region, as he met with the leader of a major rebel group.

Yesterday's meeting in North Darfur between Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada and the Chairman of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Khalil Ibrahim, was the second of its kind this year and part of a "continued effort to establish a good working relationship with all parties involved in the Darfur conflict," the mission said in a news release.

Mr. Adada once again urged that all efforts should focus on boosting the ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar, noting that "the problems that Sudan is facing now have no military solution."

He added that <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID has been monitoring "with great concern" the recent fighting between JEM on the one hand and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan Liberation Army –Minni Minawi faction (SLA/Minni) on the other. UNAMID helped provide medical care for the wounded combatants from both sides.

Mr. Adada renewed his appeal to JEM and all negotiating parties in Doha to commit to a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible, the mission said.

UNAMID added that Mr. Ibrahim expressed JEM's readiness for a cessation of hostilities in the context of a framework agreement and pledged to contribute to the improvement of the humanitarian situation and protection of civilians until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached.

Mr. Adada and Mr. Ibrahim agreed on a mechanism to improve communication and contacts between UNAMID and JEM, the mission said.

The Security Council established UNAMID in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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UN-BACKED ‘SMILE DARFUR’ CAMPAIGN WRAPS UP WITH CALL TO END VIOLENCE

UN-BACKED 'SMILE DARFUR' CAMPAIGN WRAPS UP WITH CALL TO END VIOLENCE
New York, Jun 7 2009 6:00PM
The week-long "Smile Darfur" outreach scheme, backed by the hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Sudanese region, has wrapped up with a call for peace and an end to the violence.

At yesterday's closing ceremony for "Ibatsim [Smile] Darfur," Henry Anyihodo, Deputy Joint Special Representative of the mission, known as <" http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx">UNAMID, <"http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=888&ctl=Details&mid=1062&ItemID=4302">urged Darfurians, as well as all Sudanese, to "join your hands and hearts together to work for the peace, development and prosperity of your land."

He also emphasized that UNAMID will support efforts, in line with the Mission's mandate, to end the suffering of the people of Darfur, where some 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

Mr. Anyihodo also underscored that although the international community would do as much as it could, ultimately, only Darfurians can ensure the peace process' success.

The campaign featured art exhibitions, music performances, poetry recitals and drama performances, as well as a football match yesterday in El Fasher between two teams from the nearby Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

"Smile Darfur" was part of the celebrations to mark this year's International Day of Peacekeepers on 29 May, the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.
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JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING

JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING
New York, May 25 2009 2:00PM
The hybrid African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has condemned heavy fighting in and around the town of Umm Baru which left over 50 people injured and forced hundreds to flee their homes.

According to a news release issued by the Mission, Sudanese Government forces clashed with armed elements of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for several hours yesterday in the town, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chadian border in the far west of North Darfur state.

Explosions were also reported in the area after Government planes flew overhead last night, the Mission added.

UNAMID peacekeepers based at a camp near Umm Baru report that at least 53 people have been seriously injured and need evacuation for further medical treatment. The casualties include civilians, Government soldiers and JEM members.

About 350 civilians -- mainly women, children and the elderly -- and 100 unarmed Sudanese soldiers and members of the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minnawi (SLA/MM), a pro-Government faction, are currently taking refuge near the UNAMID camp.

The Mission stressed that urgent humanitarian aid, particularly food, water, medical supplies and tents, is needed to help civilians displaced by the fighting. UNAMID has treated some of the wounded, and is on standby to evacuate those needing further medical care.

UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada condemned yesterday's fighting, and urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.

Yesterday's clashes follow an incident earlier this month in which JEM armed elements attacked Sudanese Government forces based near the town of Kornoi, located between Umm Baru and the Chadian border.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting in Darfur, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

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AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR

AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR
New York, May 19 2009 5:00PM
The joint African Union-United Nations envoy to Darfur met with a senior Sudanese official today to discuss recent fighting in the strife-torn region and rising tensions between Sudan and Chad, a spokesperson for the world body said.

Marie Okabe told reporters in New York that the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, met with Minni Minawi, a former rebel who is now the Senior Assistant to the Sudanese President.

"They discussed the latest developments in Darfur, particularly the recent fighting between the Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA/MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). They also discussed rising tensions between Chad and Sudan," Ms. Okabe said.

Fighting between the two groups flared up some ten days ago in the north Darfur town of Umm Baru. Mr. Adada said the AU-UN peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID, had taken 26 people injured in the fighting to the North Darfur capital of El Fasher for treatment at a military hospital.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday voiced his concern at recent violence and tensions in the border area between Chad and Sudan and called on all parties to cease fighting.

"He underscores that there is no military solution to the situation in the sub-region and urges the Governments of Chad and Sudan to refrain from any act that may lead to a further escalation of tensions," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Last week Mr. Adada met with the Under-Secretary of the Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mutrif Siddiq, and Presidential Adviser, Mustafa Osman Ismail, during separate meetings in Khartoum.

In a briefing to the Security Council in April, Mr. Adada estimated that around 2,000 civilians have been in killed in Darfur since UNAMID deployed last year.

Some 15 peacekeepers have also lost their lives since the Security Council established UNAMID to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

Ms. Okabe said that in the past 24 hours, the military component of UNAMID conducted 72 confidence-building patrols, escorts, night patrols and investigative patrols in and around villages and camps for internally displaced persons.
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ICC/Darfur: Court Acts to Protect African Peacekeepers

Rebel Commander Expected to Appear Before the International Criminal Court

May 17, 2009

(New York) - The decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to summon a rebel leader allegedly responsible for the killing of African Union peacekeeping forces in Darfur underscores the gravity of attacks against those deployed to protect civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. Rebel commander Bahar Idriss Abu Garda is expected to appear voluntarily before ICC judges tomorrow to respond to the summons.

Bahar Idriss Abu Garda has been charged with war crimes stemming from an assault on an African Union base in Haskanita, South Darfur, Sudan on September 30, 2007 that killed 12 peacekeepers and civilian police officers from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). At least eight others were seriously wounded. Abu Garda will be the first person to appear in relation to the ICC's Darfur investigation since it was opened in June 2005.

"This case signals the seriousness of deliberately attacking peacekeepers who are defending civilians," said Richard Dicker, International Justice Program director at Human Rights Watch. "We welcome Bahar Idriss Abu Garda's appearance at the court, which contrasts starkly with the Sudanese government's relentless obstruction of justice to the victims in Darfur."

The Rome Statute of the ICC allows the pretrial chamber to issue a summons to appear rather than an arrest warrant if the judges are satisfied that a summons is sufficient to ensure that the person will appear before the court. The ICC prosecutor made a request for a summons to appear in February 2009.

Peacekeepers are responsible for essential civilian protection activities, including patrols to protect women and girls when they leave displaced-persons camps to collect grass, firewood, and water. When these escorts have been provided, they have reduced the risk of rape and other sexual violence that is still widespread across Darfur. Repeated attacks on international peacekeepers have compromised the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations in Darfur, though. In the months following the Haskanita attack, AMIS adopted stricter security guidelines, curtailed all its activities, and confined staff to their bases, severely limiting its ability to protect civilians.

Security concerns remain a serious obstacle for the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) that took over peacekeeping in Darfur on December 31, 2007. The peacekeepers have repeatedly come under direct attacks from both rebel and Sudanese government forces, which have killed nearly a dozen peacekeepers since July 2008 - including two peacekeepers since March 2009 - and wounded many more. Since then, all of Darfur has remained at "UN Security Level 4," the second-highest security level, which is severely hampering the humanitarian operation.

"Attacks on peacekeepers further weaken the already-fragile security situation in Darfur," said Dicker. "While rebel attacks have not been on the same scale as the crimes committed in the Sudanese government's counterinsurgency campaign, they are nonetheless serious crimes that also have major implications for civilians."

Those killed during the attack on the Haskanita base included peacekeepers from four African countries. The African Union conducted its own investigation and in October 2007 issued a statement that identified the need to "bring the culprits to international justice." More recently, several North African states that are not ICC members have been critical of the court because of its focus on Africa to date. Although all four of the ICC's current investigations are in Africa, three were referred voluntarily by the governments where the crimes were committed, while the Darfur situation was referred by the UN Security Council.

"The criticism coming from a few non-ICC members that the court is anti-African inexplicably ignores the thousands of African victims whom the court is fighting to defend," said Dicker. "This criticism is even more dubious given the court's effort to try those allegedly responsible for attacks on peacekeepers from Botswana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal."

On March 4, 2009, the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The Sudanese government responded by expelling international aid agencies that provided life-saving assistance to more than a million people from Sudan, and blaming the ICC, adding further to the widespread abuses in which al-Bashir has been implicated.

Background

On March 31, 2005, the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC prosecutor. The resolution requires the government of Sudan and all parties to the conflict to cooperate fully with the court and the prosecutor. In addition to President al-Bashir, the court has issued arrest warrants for two other men, the state minister for humanitarian affairs, Ahmed Haroun, and a "Janjaweed" militia leader, Ali Kosheib. Sudan has refused to hand over all suspects.

In November 2008, the ICC prosecutor submitted an application to the judges for arrest warrants for three rebel leaders, including Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, in relation to the Haskanita attack. In his application, the prosecutor charged the three suspects with war crimes for: murder and causing severe injury to peacekeepers; intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units, or vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission; and pillaging. Judges are still examining the allegations in relation to the two remaining rebel suspects whose names have not been publicly released. In February 2009, the ICC prosecutor informed the court that due to the stated willingness of the three commanders to appear voluntarily, a summons to appear would be sufficient.

UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY TO DARFUR CONDEMNS KILLING OF BLUE HELMET

UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY TO DARFUR CONDEMNS KILLING OF BLUE HELMET
New York, May 8 2009 11:00AM
Unidentified gunmen shot dead an international peacekeeper outside his home in South Darfur last night, the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) announced with "deep regret" today.

The blue helmet was killed in a carjacking incident as he was opening the gate to his residence in Nyala, the state capital. The peacekeeper was rushed to a nearby UNAMID medical centre for treatment but died upon arrival.

Joint AU-UN Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, condemned the killing in the strongest terms, emphasizing that attacks on peacekeepers constitute war crimes.

"This attack is deplorable. UNAMID peacekeepers are here to assist the people of Darfur, and any attack on them is totally unacceptable," said Mr. Adada. "I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who lost his life."

The military observer's name, rank and nationalit
y will not be released until his family are notified, but he becomes the 15th UNAMID peacekeeper killed in a hostile confrontation since the mission deployed at the start of 2008.

Mr. Adada called on the Sudanese Government and the parties to the Darfur conflict to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of last night's shooting to justice.

Meanwhile, UNAMID, which has started its own investigation into the attack, informed local officials with Sudanese Government police and national security, who are also investigating the killing.
While the overall number of carjackings and thefts of UNAMID vehicles has declined since last year, such incidents continue across the region, particularly in South Darfur. A Nigerian peacekeeper was shot and killed during an ambush of a Mission escort patrol near Nyala on 17 March.
In a briefing to the Security Council last month Mr. Adada estimated that some 2,000 civilians have also been in killed in Darfur since UNAMID deployed last year, a
nd that some of the previous 14 peacekeepers killed may have been rescued if helicopters had been available.

The hybrid UNAMID force was set up by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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BAN: AID WORKERS’ EXPULSION FROM SUDAN IMPEDING PEACEKEEPING, RELIEF EFFORTS

The expulsion of humanitarian and human rights agencies from Sudan following the issuance of an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president for war crimes is thwarting the United Nations' efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, Secretary-General Ban K-moon said.

Mr. Ban characterized the Government's decision to eject 16 humanitarian and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), following the indictment on 4 March of President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as an "extremely negative" development.

"While joint United Nations-Government of the Sudan efforts can address some of the most critical gaps in aid delivery in the coming weeks, the cumulative effects over time of the removal of such a large amount of humanitarian capacity puts well over 1 million people at life-threatening risk," he wrote in his latest report to the Security Council on the deployment of the hybrid UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Darfur region.

The start of the rainy season next month could exacerbate the already dire situation, he added.

The Secretary-General called on authorities to urgently "re-establish an atmosphere of trust and mutual confidence with the humanitarian community," stressing the importance of cooperation to fill the most immediate gaps.

The impact of the expulsions on the work of the UN-AU mission, known as UNAMID, cannot be underestimated, he said. "A significant disruption in the provision of humanitarian assistance will almost certainly lead to a serious heightening of tensions among internally displaced persons [IDPs], particularly in the larger camps for the displaced."

As a result, the risk of violence could rise, complicating UNAMID's ability to carry out its protection mandate, Mr. Ban underlined.

He also voiced concern over continued insecurity – including clashes between Government forces and armed groups, the recurrence of tribal fighting and the build-up of troops along the Chad-Sudan border – which has impeded the mission's ability to visit locations to assess the impact of bombardments on civilians.

The Secretary-General wrote that the security of UN and associated personnel is also a critical issue, with vehicle hijackings and compound invasions growing increasingly deliberate in nature.

"The latest security developments highlight, once again, the fundamental challenges that UNAMID continues to face while operating in an environment where the parties show no intent to give up the use of force, and further underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive settlement to the Darfur crisis," he said.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

In spite of the challenges UNAMID faces, Mr. Ban said that the mission has "been able to make a difference on the ground."

But the report called on Member States to provide critical equipment, especially military helicopters, to increase UNAMID's mobility and operational impact.
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UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CHIEF MEETS WITH SENIOR DARFUR OFFICIAL

The humanitarian situation was among the issues discussed in a meeting today between the head of the United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and a top official in the war-torn region of western Sudan.

UN-AU Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada met with Minni Minawi, a former rebel who currently serves as both Chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) and Special Assistant to President Omar Al-Bashir.

Mr. Adada and Mr. Minawi also conferred on bolstering security and development, as well as the role UNAMID can play in supporting Darfurians through more Quick Impact Projects (QIPs).

In addition, they discussed the need for closer contact between the mission and the TDRA.

UNAMID was established by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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ARMED MEN CARJACK PEACEKEEPER’S VEHICLE IN NORTH DARFUR, UN REPORTS

Two unidentified gunmen carjacked a vehicle last night from United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the mission in the violence-torn region of Sudan reported today.

The driver of the vehicle, an international UN staff member, was unhurt by the two armed men who stole the car in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

Over the past month, UNAMID has reported a rise in attacks on peacekeeping staff, carjacking, other banditry, and harassment of civilians in Darfur.

There has also been concern over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the indictment on 4 March of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the region.

Meanwhile, in the past day UNAMID conducted 22 confidence-building patrols, 19 escort patrols and five night patrols covering 35 villages and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The mission's police also conducted close to 100 patrols in and around villages and IDP camps.

As part of its capacity building efforts, UNAMID police began a five-day training programme in criminal investigation for Sudanese police in Nyala, South Darfur.

UNAMID was set up by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

More than one year on from transferring the task of suppressing the violence to UNAMID from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), over 12,000 of the 19,555 military personnel authorized by the Security Council are in place across Darfur.
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ARMED ROBBERY REPORTED AT STAFF RESIDENCE OF UN-AFRICAN UNION DARFUR FORCE

Unidentified gunmen broke into a guest house yesterday occupied by personnel from the hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur, known as UNAMID.

The two men demanded the keys for a couple of UNAMID vehicles parked in the compound of the guest house in Mournei, approximately 80 kilometres from the West Darfur capital, El Geneina.

UNAMID said that the security officer at the guest house escaped without suffering any injuries and was able to report the incident to Sudanese police, informing them that the bandits got away with a VHF hand held radio and DVD player.

The peacekeeping mission tasked with quelling the violence in the war-ravaged western flank of Sudan also reported that banditry remains widespread in West Darfur, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told the press in New York.

Meanwhile, in South Darfur, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, Susana Malcorra, today travelled to the provincial capital Nyala to pay a courtesy visit on the Wali, or Governor, during which they discussed issues related to the joint AU-UN mission.

The Wali indicated that his government had approved land for UNAMID in South Darfur and reaffirmed his government's commitment to cooperate with the peacekeeping operation.

While in Nyala, Ms. Malcorra also met with UNAMID officials and toured the peacekeepers' facilities, including the Pakistan Level III hospital where she was briefed on the progress of construction work underway.

More than one year on from transferring peacekeeping operations to UNAMID from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), well over 12,000 of the 19,555 military personnel authorized by the Security Council are now in place across Darfur.

The hybrid force was set up to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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BOOSTING DEPLOYMENT OF UN-AFRICAN UNION FORCE FOCUS OF DARFUR MEETING

Representatives of the Government of Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations met today in Darfur to discuss ways to facilitate and expedite deployment of the joint peacekeeping force tasked with quelling the violence in the strife-torn region.

Participants at the fifth meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the AU-UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) noted that the deployment of military forces, including troops, officers and military observers, has reached 67 per cent as of the end of March.

Speaking to the press after today's meeting in the North Darfur capital of El Fasher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra said the steady increase in deployment over the past year was an indication of the success of the regular Tripartite Committee meetings.

At full strength, UNAMID is slated to become the world body's largest peacekeeping operation, with some 26,000 military and police personnel.

In his latest report on UNAMID, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that more than a year after it was set up, the operation still lacks critical logistical equipment, especially air power.

"The provision of outstanding equipment, in particular military helicopter assets, remains critical to increasing the mobility and operational impact of the mission," he stated, calling on Member States who are in a position to provide these vital resources to do so without further delay.

The next Tripartite Committee meeting is scheduled to be held in Darfur in early June.

UNAMID was set up over a year ago by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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