UNAMID Force Commander, Lt. General Paul Ignace Mella, talks about the dedication of UNAMID’s military peacekeepers to furthering the cause of peace in Darfur despite severe operational challenges.

By Paul Omalla

In July 2007, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1769, establishing the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the largest and the first collaborative UN peacekeeping operation. Since the initial blue-helmeted troops set foot in Sudan’s western region, UNAMID has been carrying out complex mandated tasks in a vast, conflict-affected territory in the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement and in an environment fraught with operational as well as infrastructural challenges.
 

In 2013, Lt. General Paul Ignace Mella of Tanzania was appointed to the position of UNAMID’s Force Commander, heading the Mission’s military component. Some 13,000 military personnel work under his leadership in 35 locations across Darfur. In this insightful interview, Lt. General Mella speaks about the immensely sensitive and challenging work of UNAMID’s military peacekeepers, especially with regard to protection of the civilian populations of Darfur who are the victims of the conflict that has decimated the region.
 

VOD: How would you describe the security situation in Darfur? According to you, what are the primary factors that have contributed to the current state of affairs here?
 

Lt. Gen. Mella: The security situation in Darfur is relatively calm but, at the same time, unpredictable. You may have a few quiet days but even a single incident can spark off violence between communities. For example, something as commonplace as stealing cattle can lead to serious inter-tribal clashes.
 

When it comes to armed movements, the past few months have been calm. We usually see a decrease in armed activities during the rainy season and its immediate aftermath.

In my opinion, a key factor affecting the security situation is an increase in criminality. The proliferation of small arms is very high in Darfur. Porous borders with neighbouring countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic and South Sudan makes it easy for unsavoury elements from different countries to make inroads. Additionally, the difficult geographical terrain across Darfur makes some areas inaccessible for law enforcement professionals.
 

In the course of its history, Darfur has experienced much upheaval—massive displacements, aerial bombardment in certain areas in the west and north, clashes between Government of Sudan forces and armed movements, and so forth. Since the conflict here has yet to be resolved and a comprehensive peace agreement has not been signed, the security situation continues to fluctuate. 
Download the magazine (PDF) here.