UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator a.i., Aïchatou Mindaoudou, met with the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, 24 October.

Addis Ababa, 25 October 2012 - UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator a.i., Aïchatou Mindaoudou, met with the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday, 24 October.

They discussed, among other things, the situation in Darfur, in particular the resurgence of armed violence since August in North Darfur. The Acting Special Representative highlighted the fact that five UN peacekeepers have been killed during October alone in attacks by armed groups.
 
The discussions also focused on the latest developments in the Darfur peace process, with special emphasis on the recent agreement with major elements of the Justice and Equality Movement, or JEM, in Doha this week as well as on-going preparations for the upcoming donor conference for Darfur, to be held in Doha in December.
 
On all these issues, the Acting JSR stressed the importance of the African Union's full engagement if there is to be continued progress toward peace and security for the people of Darfur. The Chairperson agreed to raise all of these concerns with the AU Commission and pledged to "put Darfur back on the radar-scope."