El Fasher, 25 September 2011 - At their 11th meeting since July 2008, held on 24 September in New York, the Tripartite Coordination Mechanism on the African Union-United  Nations Mission in Darfur agreed that UNAMID had achieved progress and that cooperation and coordination with the Government of the Sudan had improved, as had security conditions on the ground. Participants encouraged UNAMID to support the peace process in Darfur, by engaging other movements and preparing for the internal dialogue and Darfur political process.

The Tripartite Mechanism brings together senior representation of the African Union, United Nations and the Sudanese Government to reinforce cooperation among them on their support to UNAMID in its mission to protect the people of Darfur.

In recent meetings, participants proposed that the Mission shift its focus from troop deployment to the effective employment of UNAMID's resources toward the full implementation of its mandate. At the recent meeting in New York, participants welcomed the new emphasis.

UNAMID’s briefing on the security situation in Darfur noted that inter-tribal violence had diminished in recent months and that the number of overall fatalities in Darfur fell from 2,321 in 2010 to 724 thus far in 2011. Carjacking have been reduced due to mitigation measures by UNAMID and the Government. However, participants expressed concern over attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel in Darfur, including the abduction of an international aid worker who remained in captivity. And they noted the Government’s commitment to secure his safe release and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Other issues discussed included access and freedom of movement, the June water conference, and the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). Participants noted the increase in UNAMID patrols and an access restriction rate of less than one percent of those patrols. UNAMID’s Operation Spring Basket had contributed to the expansion of humanitarian access to previously inaccessible parts of the Jebel Marra and elsewhere in Darfur. Participants welcomed the efforts at resolving restrictions of movement through a subcommittee of UNAMID, local authorities and Government security entities.

The participants asked the JSR to continue to reach out and engage organizations and donors to mobilize resources following the Darfur International Conference on Water for Sustainable Peace, held in Khartoum on 27-28 June. They re-emphasized the importance of the water issue in Darfur and urged the Government to disburse the funds it had pledged.

Participants welcomed recent progress in implementation of the DDPD, including the inauguration of the Ceasefire Commission in Darfur and the Implementation Follow-up Commission in Doha. They emphasized the need for continuous commitment by the signatory parties, the Government and Liberation and Justice Movement—to abide by its provisions and timeline. And they called upon other rebel groups to join the process.

The delegations in New York were headed by Ambassador Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sudan; Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security; Ms. Susan Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Field Support; Mr. Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari, UNAMID.

The participants agreed to meet next in Khartoum, possibly in January 2012 when they would focus on strategic issues, including how better to utilize Mission resources, the road map for the Darfur peace process and a forthcoming review of uniformed personnel required for UNAMID. .

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