Addis Ababa, 13 September 2014 - The AU-UN Joint Special Representative/Joint Chief Mediator (JSR/JCM) for Darfur, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, briefed the African Union Peace and Security Council on Darfur in Addis Ababa, on 12 September 2014.

In his Speech to the Council, the JSR/JCM set out the mediation efforts he undertook jointly with, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the UN Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan (SESSS), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Arab League. He focused on ways of integrating the Darfur peace process into the broader opportunity presented by the National Dialogue Initiative announced by President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir earlier this year.

He expressed the common belief amongst the stakeholders that the war has to stop through a cessation of hostilities or a permanent ceasefire; the need to bring about an inclusive change based on national consensus among all the Sudanese and for this to be done through an open, transparent, free and fair dialogue.

The Head of UNAMID reminded the Council of the plight of Darfurians whose situation may not have been lately as dramatic as the situation in Mali, Libya or the Central African Republic; yet the fact remains that the level of displacement in Darfur remains alarming. He reiterated the imperative for finding a political solution to the unfolding humanitarian crisis while addressing the security challenges in Darfur.

He also recommended to the Council the integration of mediation efforts on Darfur and Sudan into one robust mechanism, under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki, the Chairperson of the AUHIP, in order to harness the respective strengths of, the AUHIP, UNAMID, SESSS, IGAD, Qatar and the Arab League into a synchronised, coherent and programmatic mediation structure.

“UNAMID stands ready to offer logistical support, within its mandate, resources and capability, towards the stopping of war through a monitored cessation of hostilities or ceasefire, as well as support the integration and incorporation of the Darfur-specific concerns in the DDPD within the national dialogue”, Mr Chambas reaffirmed at the conclusion of his speech to the Council.