Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief

By United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 10, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief / 09 May 2012

African Union reaffirms support for UNAMID

Addis Ababa - The Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) of the African Union and United Nations for Darfur, Ms. Aichatou Mindaoudou Souleymane, met yesterday with Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to discuss recent developments in Darfur and the work of the AU-UN Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

DJSR Aichatou Mindaoudou emphasized the need for the diplomatic community's continued engagement to enhance the peace process in Darfur and consolidate the gains achieved so far. Chairperson Ping reaffirmed the AU's support for UNAMID's efforts and commended the Mission's recent achievements in advancing peace and stability in Darfur, particularly the protection of civilians.

“UNAMID, as a hybrid peacekeeping mission between the UN and AU, is the first of its kind,” commented Chairperson Ping. “UNAMID has become an excellent model for future peacekeeping missions in Africa.”

DJSR Aichatou Mindaoudou also met with Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, to discuss the security aspects of UNAMID's operations in Darfur and the Mission's efforts to protect civilians. Both agreed that the relatively stable situation in Darfur was not a time for complacency but a window of opportunity to strengthen UNAMID's readiness to protect civilians in case of any surge in violence. In this regard, Commissioner Lamamra commended the efforts of the UNAMID civilian and uniformed personnel in carrying out the mandate of the Security Council to keep peace in Darfur and pledged AU's full support to their efforts.

UNDP, UNAMID empower Darfur prison staff, inmates

The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), on Wednesday launched a series of vocational skills training programmes, entitled ”Training of Trainers,” targeting 16 prison staff and 22 juvenile inmates in North Darfur State.

Mr. Germain Baricako, Head of UNAMID Rule of Law, who spoke at the ceremony at El Fasher Technical School, noted that the six month course for the prisons staff and 45 days for juvenile offenders “is an important step that will ensure sustainability of prisons.”

He stated the Mission's commitment to working with the Government of the Sudan and other partners to strengthen the prison system in the country in accordance with international standards.

The representative of the Wali of North Darfur, Dr. Tigani Seinin, who is also the Minister of Education, expressed the readiness of the North Darfur State to work with UNAMID to improve the prison administration system in the region.

The Minister said that the vocational skills would enable the inmates to become more useful to the society after serving their various terms.

In a related development, four Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) implemented by UNAMID were inaugurated at Shallah Women's Prison in El Fasher to enhance the living conditions in the facility.

The projects included an office block, a dormitory, a kitchen, bathrooms/toilets and an underground water tank.