Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, April 23, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief /22 April 2012

Nigeria Government to upgrade logistic support to UNAMID

Nigerian Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed on Sunday said the Nigeria Government would soon upgrade its military-owned equipment in line with the UN standards and explore ways to increase its support to the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Dr. Mohammed led a high-level delegation to El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, in company of the Chief of Defence Staff and seven other senior members to review Nigeria's operations in the Mission and to map out new strategies to help contribute to the enhancement of peace and security in Darfur.

“Nigeria has committed a lot of efforts and men to UNAMID because we feel this is an African situation and we have a responsibility to contribute to resolve it,'' the minister said.

He also said that, “I came to Darfur to evaluate the contribution of our troops in this peace process and see how to make our contribution even more effective by equipping them better and by providing all facilities they may require.”

The Nigerian minister was briefed by UNAMID senior officials on the current status of the Mission, which covers security, political and humanitarian situation in Darfur.

UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari stressed on the importance of the financial and logistical support by Member States to the Mission to help bring stability to the region.

JSR Gambari said that “Nigerian troops play a critical role in helping UNAMID to carry out its mandate of protecting the civilian population and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need and supporting the peace process in Darfur.”

Nigeria is UNAMID's major contributor of military troops, with over 3,300 military peacekeepers, 450 police officers and the fourth largest troop contributing country to peacekeeping operations worldwide.

UPDATE: On attack in West Darfur

One of the four formed police unit (FPU) from Togo, who sustained injures following an attack by unidentified gunmen on 20 April, was announced dead yesterday in UANMID hospital.

FPU were on a routine patrol about 70 kilometres southeast of El Geneina, West Darfur, when they came under gunfire.