Under-Secretary-General Le Roy continues visit throughout Darfur

1 Dec 2008

Under-Secretary-General Le Roy continues visit throughout Darfur

10 October 2008 -- United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, left El-Fasher this morning for El-Geinena, West Darfur, on the second-leg of his trip in Darfur. He is expected to proceed to Nyala, South Darfur, later this afternoon. During this period, the USG is scheduled to meet with local authorities, visit a number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and meet with UNAMID staff deployed in the Sectors.

Yesterday, Mr. Le Roy travelled to Lill in North Darfur where he met with the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA), Mr. Mini Minawi, to discuss the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), and ongoing efforts to revitalize the peace process.

The USG was accompanied by the Joint Special Representatives, Rodolphe Adada, the Force Commander, General Martin Agwai and UNAMID senior officials.

Upon his return to El Fasher, Mr. Leroy met with IDP representatives from Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zam Zam Camps in North Darfur to listen to their concerns. The IDPs requested an increase in the number of UNAMID presence in and around the camps to ensure security and protection of civilians. The USG reassured the IDPs that UNAMID is taking their concerns very seriously and has adopted a number of measures to address the current situation, including plans to deploy at least 4500 troops by the end of this year – bringing the total deployment level to about 65 per cent of the mandated troop levels. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), in consultation with UNAMID, is also reviewing plans to increase police and Formed Police Units (FPU) in the Camps.

During his meeting with local civil society representatives from the different parts of North Darfur, whom he referred to as "natural allies" in the peace process in the region, civil society pointed out that the only way to achieve peace in Darfur is to "pressurize" all stakeholders in the Darfur process to come to the negotiating table.