UN-chief considers ‘hard decisions’ for Darfur peace mission
Lack of progress in peace building in Darfur and increased violence in Western Sudan has frustrated the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. In his Security Council report on Darfur he proposes a “redoubled effort by Unamid” to improve the effectiveness of the peacekeeping mission. He blames his own mission personnel of “too easily turning back when halted by the government at checkpoints”, rather than assertively insisting on proceeding. In the report, the UN chief further describes the lack of implementation of previous peace agreements. He admits that the power-sharing with former rebel movements, such as the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and the Justice and Equality Movement-Bashar, now known as JEM-Sudan, and the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), have been constrained by a lack of capacity, resources and political influence. Ban Ki-moon further blames the government for its “insufficient cooperation in verifying and reporting human rights violations” and “restricting access to areas in crisis where protection and humanitarian needs are acute”. In the East Jebel Marra region an estimated 100,000 people have been cut off from UN’s assistance since early 2010. Ban Ki-moon says that after one year, the Security Council would be faced with three scenarios, including a scenario wherein the political and security situation has not changed and the peacekeepers have not improved its effectiveness. That will be “requiring hard decisions on the future of Unamid”. No functioning authority DarfurBenchmarks for improvements are the government and the non-signatory movements entering into direct negotiations over an all-inclusive comprehensive settlement to the Darfur conflict and a functioning DRA. On Thursday, the head of the DRA, Dr Tijani Sese, also complained about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in especially South Darfur where militias have attacked and burned more than 38 villages last week. He criticised the government, saying “the authority of the state is completely absent in Darfur. North Darfur faced a large scale attack and there were no efforts to deal with”. Unamid to protect civiliansFor Unamid, the Secretary-General wants a reduction in the number of violent crimes against civilians, in particular against women and children. He also wants civilians to receive emergency medical assistance from Unamid, including evacuation to medical facilities in extreme circumstances (i.e., when humanitarian actors are unable to assist). “The prevalence of arms and armed actors is to be reduced through disarmament, as well as safe, timely, and unhindered humanitarian access. Safety and security for humanitarian personnel should be improved.”File photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon waves to displaced people upon arrival at El Salam camp in North Darfur (UN News)
Lack of progress in peace building in Darfur and increased violence in Western Sudan has frustrated the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. In his Security Council report on Darfur he proposes a “redoubled effort by Unamid” to improve the effectiveness of the peacekeeping mission.
He blames his own mission personnel of “too easily turning back when halted by the government at checkpoints”, rather than assertively insisting on proceeding. In the report, the UN chief further describes the lack of implementation of previous peace agreements. He admits that the power-sharing with former rebel movements, such as the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and the Justice and Equality Movement-Bashar, now known as JEM-Sudan, and the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), have been constrained by a lack of capacity, resources and political influence.
Ban Ki-moon further blames the government for its “insufficient cooperation in verifying and reporting human rights violations” and “restricting access to areas in crisis where protection and humanitarian needs are acute”. In the East Jebel Marra region an estimated 100,000 people have been cut off from UN’s assistance since early 2010. Ban Ki-moon says that after one year, the Security Council would be faced with three scenarios, including a scenario wherein the political and security situation has not changed and the peacekeepers have not improved its effectiveness. That will be “requiring hard decisions on the future of Unamid”.
No functioning authority Darfur
Benchmarks for improvements are the government and the non-signatory movements entering into direct negotiations over an all-inclusive comprehensive settlement to the Darfur conflict and a functioning DRA. On Thursday, the head of the DRA, Dr Tijani Sese, also complained about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in especially South Darfur where militias have attacked and burned more than 38 villages last week. He criticised the government, saying “the authority of the state is completely absent in Darfur. North Darfur faced a large scale attack and there were no efforts to deal with”.
Unamid to protect civilians
For Unamid, the Secretary-General wants a reduction in the number of violent crimes against civilians, in particular against women and children. He also wants civilians to receive emergency medical assistance from Unamid, including evacuation to medical facilities in extreme circumstances (i.e., when humanitarian actors are unable to assist). “The prevalence of arms and armed actors is to be reduced through disarmament, as well as safe, timely, and unhindered humanitarian access. Safety and security for humanitarian personnel should be improved.”
File photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon waves to displaced people upon arrival at El Salam camp in North Darfur (UN News)
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