15 September 2014 - It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to this press conference today. This is my first press conference since I joined the mission earlier this year. We however met briefly a couple of times before during UNAMID events, including during the Press conference our head of mission held last August.

I also had the privilege of meeting many of you during my previous assignment in Sudan. It is a privilege for me to be with you again here in Khartoum and shall be looking forward to make this meeting with the media on a more regular basis.

As you are aware, the United Nations Security Council on 27 of August adopted resolution 2173 on Darfur, extending UNAMID’s mandate by 10 months.

The new resolution reiterated its endorsement of UNAMID’s revised strategic priorities mandated by the previous resolution 2148 and requested that UNAMID continue to align all its activities and direct the use of its resources to the achievement of these priorities:

-       Protecting Civilians (without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Sudan)

-       Facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance and ensuring the safety of Humanitarian workers,

-       Supporting the mediation of community conflict to resolve ongoing intertribal violence in various parts of Darfur,

-       Mediating between the Government of Sudan and non-signatory armed movements on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. 

In addition, the new Resolution 2173 commended the renewed engagement of the non-signatory movements, and emphasized the importance of the Joint Special Representative's strengthened coordination with the AU high-level implementation panel and the United Nations special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan in synchronizing their mediation efforts while taking into account ongoing transformation at the national level.

It also welcomed the National Dialogue Initiative announced by President Omar Al-Bashir and demanded that all parties to the conflict in Darfur, including in particular all the non-signatory armed groups, and other groups to immediately cease all acts of violence, and commit themselves to a sustained and permanent ceasefire, in order to bring a stable and durable peace to the region.

While noting the significant decline in fatal attacks on UNAMID since August 2013, the Security Council underlined that any attack or threat of attack on UNAMID is unacceptable.

The Council also commended progress on the reforms affected by the comprehensive review of civilian, military and police components of UNAMID to maximise operational capability and achieve cost efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Mission and its Head continued to carry on work on all fronts in order to assist the prospects of achieving peace in Darfur. Mr. Chambas has had several meetings with all the parties in an attempt to explore ways of integrating the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur into the National Dialogue. I shall briefly update you on the most recent meetings and consultations he had in this regard.

Between 30 August and 5 September, the JSR, jointly with President Thabo Mbeki, Chairperson of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the UN Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan (SESSS), and representatives of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the Arab League met with the leadership of non-signatory movements in Addis Ababa to discuss the modalities for the participation of Sudanese opposition movements in the national dialogue.

The movements stated they were willing to consider engaging in a national dialogue and expressed their primary interest in ending war in Sudan.

Last week, the JSR and President Mbeki went to Doha for consultations with the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud. They briefed Al-Mahmoud on the consultations they had in Addis and discussed modalities of integrating the Doha Document Peace in Darfur into the National Dialogue.

On 12 September, Mr Chambas returned to Addis to brief the African Union Peace and Security Council on Darfur and set out the mediation efforts. 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.

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 synchronized, coherent and programmatic mediation structure.

Regarding the situation in Kalma camp for internally displaced persons in South Darfur, UNAMID continues to monitor the situation closely and engage with IDP representatives and Government authorities at local, state and federal levels. The Mission leadership continues to appeal for calming the currently tense situation and continue to call on all the parties, in and around Kalma, to exercise restraint and refrain from any hasty actions.

Now you have all seen the announcement made by the UN Secretary-General about the appointment of Mr. Chambas as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Offices for West Africa. However, Mr. Chambas remains fully engaged with his responsibilities as Head of UNAMID and Joint Chief Mediator until such time when he assumes his new position in West Africa. As we speak, the JSR is on his way to NY to attend the UN General Assembly and shall return to Sudan afterwards.

He asked me to give you his regards and inform you that he will meet with you prior to his departure in due course.

Thank you.