14 February 2010 - UNAMID’s Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari was invited today to address the extraordinary session of the League of Arab States held at the level of Permanent Representatives. The meeting was held in El Fasher, North Darfur, and discussed ways to support peace and development in Darfur. Mr. Gambari reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to achieving its mandated task of helping to secure lasting peace and stability in the region.

Chairing the session was the Syrian ambassador, Yusif Ahmed, who along with the League of Arab States, welcomed the positive steps taken by all parties to resolving the conflict in Darfur and expressed full support of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Joint Mediation and the Arab and African countries to solve Darfur’s issues. He was accompanied by other ambassadors of Arab countries to Sudan. The meeting was also attended by the Senior Presidential Assistant and head of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA), Minni Arko Minnawi, and other Government of Sudan officials, including the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur, Othman Kibir.

The Secretary General of the League of Arab States met with UNAMID’s senior leadership, including Deputy JSRs Henry Anyidoho and Mohamed Yonis. They briefed him on the current security, political and humanitarian situation on the ground, as well as on the status of the Mission’s deployment. Secretary-General Moussa commended the tremendous work accomplished by UNAMID in the region and expressed his satisfaction with its achievements.