El Fasher, 19 January 2009: The Senior Assistant to the President and Leader of the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/MM), Mr. Minni Minawi, yesterday visited the UNAMID HQ in El Fasher and met with the Deputy Joint Special Representative, Mr. Henry Anyidoho, and other UNAMID senior officials to discuss the situation in the South Darfur town of Muhajeriya. Fierce fighting there in recent days between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and SLA/MM has resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of people and worsened the suffering of local civilians.

The SLA/MM Leader expressed his concern about JEM taking over Muhajeriya, which has been a SLA/MM stronghold since 2004.

During the meeting, Mr. Anyidoho reiterated the Mission’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the civilian population in and around Muhajeriya. He expressed regret about the negative effects that continued armed activities have on the ongoing efforts to end the Darfur conflict.

As part of the Mission’s efforts to contain the situation, UNAMID is intensifying its efforts to engage JEM and SLA/MM and has urged the two groups to come together to resolve their differences.

Muhajeriya is currently home to an estimated 30,000 residents and internally displaced persons. UNAMID peacekeepers on the ground are providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population following the relocation of aid agencies from the area.