Khartoum, 23 January 2014

Good Morning and Happy New Year everyone.
 

It has been nine months since I took office as the Head of UNAMID. A number of significant events have taken place in Darfur and the region, which will impact the Mission’s work in this year. In this first press conference since assuming office, I would like to focus on some of these past developments and highlight the way forward for UNAMID in 2014, which I hope will be the year of peace in Darfur.
 

In 2013 the conflict in Darfur surpassed a decade. There was a steep escalation of tribal conflicts and the battle between Government forces and armed movements continued unabated, both with devastating consequences on the civilian populations in the region. It was also a sad year for UNAMID. Sixteen of our personnel lost their lives in the line of duty in attacks against peacekeepers – attacks which constitute war crimes and clear violations of international humanitarian law.
 

Despite these setbacks, UNAMID continued to forge ahead to implement its mandate in one of the most trying environments. The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) will continue to be the framework based on which peace will be achieved in Darfur as mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. In 2013, I reached out to potential regional partners for their support and to appreciate their commitment to the peace process. I also met with the non-signatory movements, first in Arusha to understand their position and to provide them with a platform to share their grievances. In Addis Ababa, in partnership with the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development and under the auspices of the African Union, we met again to increase the Movements’ understanding of the humanitarian, security and political situation in Darfur and to encourage their participation in negotiations with the Government. At the same time the Government of Sudan was constantly appraised about the steps being taken by the Mediation; so also the State of Qatar which continues to show strong support for the quest for peace in Darfur.
 

As the Mediation explores ways to persuade the non-signatory movements to join the peace process, the DDPD welcomed one more signatory in 2013 alongside the Government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), the Justice and Equality Movement-Bashar, who despite the massive setback they suffered when their entire leadership was decimated in May 2013 pledged their support to the forces of peace.
 

Of course, the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and its institutions are now established and operational. UNAMID’s partnership with the DRA in supporting the implementation of the DDPD continued. One of the crucial areas that the Mission has actively worked with the DRA is in the conduct of workshops and conferences for diverse actors to identify the root causes of tribal conflicts that have raged throughout the region and to instill a culture of peace and co-existence among the communities.
 

In the year 2013 the much awaited International Donors’ Conference for Darfur was held in Doha where significant pledges were allocated for development projects all over Darfur under the Darfur Development Strategy. The Special Prosecutor for the Special Court for Darfur was appointed in June 2013 to oversee gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in Darfur since February 2003, as stipulated in the DDPD. The preparations for the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation took a further step in December last year with the meeting of its three Facilitators – UNAMID, the Government of Qatar and the African Union. This is a grassroots process that widens ownership of the peace framework, builds confidence and encourages reconciliation as well as unity among the people of Darfur.
 

We congratulate the Government of Sudan and the LJM for signing a bilateral agreement on security arrangements and UNAMID stands ready to support the Parties in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process of the ex- combatants. In the same vein we also look forward to the final security arrangements that are being developed between the Government and the new signatory to the DDPD, JEM-Bashar. These are critical steps that ensure security and stability in the region paving the way for actual and much needed development in Darfur.

Despite these significant strides the Mission has made on various fronts, I acknowledge the inherent difficulties that the Mission and Mediation face in implementing its mandate as we enter 2014.
 

The Mediation will scale up its efforts to pave the way for serious talks between the non-signatory movements and the Government within the framework of DDPD. My message from the beginning has been unequivocal in that – after 10 years of conflict, 10 years of violence - the military option is out and will not solve the problem of Darfur, and to truly meet the needs of the people one espouses to represent, the way forward is only through dialogue and negotiation. The Mediation will explore every means possible – national, regional and international partners – to influence all sides to join the negotiation table to achieve the true comprehensive peace that the people of Darfur deserve.
 

While overall peace and security is critical, the actual needs of the people on the ground can only be addressed by instituting a strong development agenda that improves the socio-economic conditions in Darfur and encourages the return of the vast internally displaced and refugee populations languishing for over a decade in camps scattered across Darfur and neighboring countries. Tangible progress in the development agenda is also linked to mitigating ethnic tensions that have surged over the year, resulting in intertribal clashes due to competition over dwindling resources. A development strategy that is inclusive provides for the basic needs of the population and accelerates economic and livelihood opportunities is urgently needed. The Darfur Development Strategy is an excellent blueprint to bring this to fruition and UNAMID will continue to support the DRA and the Government in realizing the short-term and long-term development goals articulated in the Strategy. To this end, technical and logistical support is given to the DRA to implement 1,071 development projects throughout Darfur.
 

These are some of the key mission wide strategies that UNAMID will focus on in the coming year. Despite the grievous losses the Mission encountered in 2013, we are ready to face the numerous challenges that will inevitably arise and we will in no way be deterred from our central goal of protecting the civilians of Darfur and assisting them in bringing about durable peace.

Let me be clear to the perpetrators of war crimes against the Mission – UNAMID is a here to keep peace and in line with the Chapter VII mandate accorded to us, will defend itself robustly when attacked. At the same time, we will continue to work with the Government of Sudan, specifically the Ministry of Justice to provide them with all the evidence necessary to bring the attackers to justice.
 

While we reflect on the activities of the past year and herald the New Year, I strongly believe the road to peace lies ahead and the time has come to take it.
 

Thank you and best wishes for a peaceful year.

The statement was followed by a question-and-answer session. Read it here.