19 May 2011 - In a meeting today with UNAMID staff, Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari has again called upon the Sudanese Government to release two national staff members who were arrested in recent weeks. He called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the civilian personnel who were detained in contravention of the Status of Forces Agreement between UNAMID and the Government of Sudan.

Under that legal document, it is stated that “should the Government consider that any member of UNAMID has committed a criminal offence, it shall promptly inform the Joint Special Representative and present to him any evidence available to it […] The JSR shall conduct any necessary supplementary inquiry and then agree with the Government whether or not criminal proceedings should be instituted.”

The JSR said he has received no such information on the staff being held. All UN staff have functional immunity, that is, protection from charges that might be leveled against them for any activity that is tied to their official duties.

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