S/PV.6054 Security Council

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Le Roy to take a seat at the Council table. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Ms. Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support. It is so decided. I invite Ms. Malcorra to take a seat at the Council table. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), contained in document S/2008/781. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, and Ms. Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support. I now give the floor to Mr. Le Roy.

The report of the Secretary-General (S/2008/781), which is before the Council, aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the situation in Darfur over the past 60 days. I will therefore limit my briefing today to developments affecting the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, the status of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and progress made in the political process. Under-Secretary-General Malcorra will then highlight some key issues relating to the deployment of UNAMID and some of the major challenges that we continue to face in this area. It has been almost one year since the transfer of authority from the African Union Mission in the Sudan to UNAMID. This milestone provides an opportunity for reflection on the efforts made to date to resolve the conflict in Darfur. While some progress has been made in various areas over the past year, it has been much too slow in providing real improvements for ordinary citizens in Darfur and inadequate in resolving the Darfur crisis. As the conflict enters its sixth year, over 2.5 million people continue to live in internally displaced persons camps, completely dependent on humanitarian assistance. The situation has not improved. Over the past six months, nearly 100,000 more people have been displaced. As Council members heard recently from Under- Secretary-General John Holmes, the humanitarian community continues to struggle with issues of security and humanitarian access, with the hope that the situation will improve over the coming year. It is of grave concern that, year after year, the security situation remains volatile and unpredictable. The past two months have been no exception. Attacks on UNAMID and humanitarian workers, intertribal violence and clashes between the Government and the armed movements have even intensified. In the first year of its operation, UNAMID lost 21 personnel. Most recently, on 29 October, a UNAMID soldier was killed and another injured during an attack while guarding a water point near the Kassab camp, in Northern Darfur. On 9 November, another UNAMID soldier was injured during an ambush of a UNAMID convoy travelling on the El-Jeneina road. During the past year inter-ethnic fighting has also claimed many lives. In October alone, seven separate armed tribal clashes reportedly took place, killing at least 41 men and several children and injuring many more. Several women were raped during the clashes. Many parcels of cultivated land were burned and livestock was stolen. Just this past week, inter-ethnic clashes in Southern Darfur claimed another 75 lives, including those of members of the Sudanese police, who tried to intervene. Despite the unilateral declaration by the Government of the Sudan of a ceasefire on 12 November, aerial bombardments and armed clashes between the Government and the rebel movements have continued. In particular, during the period from 12 to 25 November, UNAMID received unconfirmed information about significant military incidents in several locations across Darfur. Five of these incidents were related to aerial bombardments. UNAMID deployed patrols to verify these reports. In Southern Darfur, UNAMID found visible evidence of air strikes, including four bomb craters and unexploded ordnance near the village of Abu Dangal, in Southern Darfur. UNAMID dispatched another verification patrol to Abu Shouk, in Northern Darfur, but it was twice stopped at Government checkpoints and was not allowed to proceed to the site. On 13 December, a UNAMID patrol was eventually allowed access to the area and observed six craters left from aerial bombardments in the village of Korbia, 90 kilometres northwest of Kutum. The Government of the Sudan has justified the bombings in Abu Shouk by the need to clear the road of bandits so convoys from the Sudanese Armed Forces could pass safely. However, the United Nations has emphasized to the Government that the pretext for those aerial bombardment cannot be accepted in any way and that the Government should honour its own commitment to the cessation of hostilities. The violence between the parties was not limited to aerial bombardments. Rebels also have a lot to answer for. In November, Government authorities were targeted by armed groups. Clashes between Government forces and the Abdul Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Army also took place over several days in November near Kutum in Northern Darfur. (spoke in English) Amid continuing violence and in this complex operating environment, UNAMID has been trying to implement its mandate even as it continues to deploy. Over the past year, the frequency of the Mission’s patrols have drastically increased, in order to facilitate humanitarian access and provide convoy protection, but also as a confidence-building measure and to investigate security incidents. The 24/7 presence of UNAMID police in Kalma camp has been welcome by camp residents and has strengthened the relationship between UNAMID, the humanitarian community and the internally displaced persons. Several requests have been made for UNAMID to replicate this initiative in other camps, but so far limited resources, especially the absence of more formed police units, continue to hold the Mission back. Earlier this month, UNAMID played a central role in preventing a major crisis following clashes between nomads and internally displaced persons in Hassa Hissa camp, in Western Darfur, near the town of Zalingei. UNAMID intervened with camp leadership and local sheikhs to stabilize the situation. It then deployed troops to the area to prevent further escalation, and through coordination with the Government liaison officer, Government forces were deployed to restore order at the camp. UNAMID forces — police and civilian components — worked together with the community and local government officials to negotiate a settlement and to ensure a speedy resolution to the conflict. As its numbers and its capabilities increase, the Mission will be able to do much more of this good work. We will need continued Government cooperation and sustained international support to reach this objective. In this context, we will continue to work with Member States to fill key gaps in the Mission’s force composition. As Council members are fully aware, for over a year we have been requesting pledges for a multi-role logistics unit, a medium transport unit, a heavy transport unit, an aerial reconnaissance unit, light tactical helicopters and 18 medium-utility helicopters. Pledges for these resources have been and still are outstanding. I reiterate my appeal to Council members to urge troop- and police-contributing countries in a position to provide those capabilities to do so without any further delay. Deploying UNAMID to its authorized strength as it endeavours to undertake its mandate activities has been and remains our priority. Recent cooperation with the Government of the Sudan on the facilitation of UNAMID deployment has gone a long way in complementing our efforts. Under-Secretary-General Malcorra will provide additional details on this issue. As we have emphasized many times before, even when fully deployed and at full capacity, UNAMID cannot, by itself, bring peace to Darfur. Only a political settlement between the parties will be able to bring an end to the conflict. It is therefore deeply regrettable that another year has passed while the parties continue to engage in military action rather than investing themselves fully in political negotiations. The multiparty Sudan People’s Forum, launched in October, takes a step in the right direction. Progress was made in the discussion at the national level on the issues of most concern to Darfurians: disarmament of militias, compensation, Darfur as a region, political representation and socio-economic development. The Government has pledged that the recommendation of this forum will serve as a basis for discussion, for direct dialogue with the armed movements and towards a final political settlement. For the Sudan People’s Forum to make a difference, it is critical that quick action be taken to implement its recommendations. Violations of the ceasefire declared unilaterally by President Al-Bashir at the conclusion of the Sudan People’s Forum, of course, have not helped promote a climate of trust between the parties. Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé has been working closely with the parties over the past several months, urging them to cease hostilities, take steps to demonstrate their seriousness towards the settlements and engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of Darfur. He continues to work with the Government and movements in an effort to adopt a framework agreement that includes the cessation of hostilities and defines the modalities of and specific topics for direct negotiation. With the help of the Government of Qatar and other stakeholders, there has been some progress this past month in beginning these discussions in Doha. Many issues still remain outstanding, and Mr. Bassolé has been engaged intensively to bring the parties’ positions closer together. During his interaction with the armed movements, Mr. Bassolé has been urging the groups to resolve the question of their participation and representation at future peace talks. Now the rebels should be called on to conclude these issues rapidly. They have a sober obligation to do all they can to allow meaningful talks to begin. The 14 July application by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an arrest warrant against President Al-Bashir, may also have an impact on peace and security in Darfur. So far, we have received mixed signals from the Government on this issue. On the one hand, we have been given reassurances that there will be no impact on UNAMID and the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) if the ICC agrees to the Prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant for the President. However, some public statements made by Government officials have contradicted that position. Our peacekeeping missions and our humanitarian and development work in Sudan will continue to conduct their operations in an impartial manner, cooperating in good faith with all partners to further the goal of peace and stability in the country. We trust that the Government will continue to fulfil its commitments towards peace in Darfur and cooperate with United Nations efforts towards that end. In the meantime, priorities from our perspective are clear: the violence must stop, the parties must commit to dialogue and the United Nations-African Union mediation efforts must receive all required support. On the peacekeeping side, we must redouble our efforts with troop-contributing countries to accelerate deployment. Additionally, we must get the most out of the UNAMID units that are already deployed in the areas of protection of civilians and facilitation of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, the fundamental responsibility for making real progress lies with the parties. It is the Government of the Sudan and armed rebel movements which must cease hostilities and agree to dialogue under the auspices of Chief Mediator Bassolé. It is the Government which must take concrete action to demonstrate its seriousness with respect to the outcomes of the Sudan People’s Forum and the associated ceasefire. In addition, it is critical for regional stability and lasting peace in Darfur that the Governments of Chad and the Sudan implement the Dakar Agreement. A year ago, my predecessor cautioned that the longer this issue went unresolved, the greater the risks that UNAMID would fail to implement the mandate given to it by the Council. It is my hope that in one year’s time, I can appear in this Chamber with better news.

I now give the floor to Ms. Susana Malcorra. Ms. Malcorra: I am glad to be here today to provide the Council with a detailed overview of our efforts to work with troop- and police-contributing countries and the Government of the Sudan to accelerate the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The report before the Council (S/2008/781) provides a full picture the status of our deployment efforts, the challenges which we have been able to overcome since the last time I briefed the Council and obstacles that we must overcome in order to meet our full objectives. As Council members received the report only yesterday, I will take this opportunity to provide a summary of the main highlights and to update our efforts since the report was finalized. As indicated in the report, I am pleased to inform Council members that, with a little less than two weeks to go, we are moving towards our target of achieving 60 per cent deployment of the mission’s uniformed personnel by the end of the year. Achievement of this goal comes as a result of our efforts to accelerate the movement of equipment into Darfur, enhance engineering capabilities and improve cooperation with the Government of the Sudan. While we still have a long way to go to achieve our ultimate goal of full deployment of UNAMID, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the troop- and police- contributing countries that have worked so hard with us to reach this initial target, as well as colleagues in UNAMID who have applied themselves, tirelessly, to meeting this challenging goal. As detailed in the Secretary-General’s report, the Department of Safety and Security and UNAMID put in place special measures to improve the rate at which contingent owned equipment reaches its final destination. Improved road conditions since the end of the rainy season, strengthened land transport capacity, rail transport and additional air capacity have helped in ensuring that the backlog at El Obeid is clear. The mission is also working to enhance its engineering capacity, including through the expedited employment of military engineers, partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services and the recruitment of local contractors. As a result, engineering work for the Nyala supercamp is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008 and the El Fasher and El Geneina supercamps are scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2009. That will be a major improvement in the mission’s ability to accept and accommodate personnel. In addition, even with its limited resources, the mission has significantly increased reserves of essential supplies, including rations and water, to ensure that we are prepared to operate in a security Phase IV environment. Improvements in the movement of equipment and the enhancement of our engineering work have been complemented by good levels of cooperation with the Government of the Sudan with respect to deployment. I travelled to Khartoum on 16 November for the second meeting of the Tripartite Committee, during which I was reassured by Government officials that every effort would be made to facilitate the deployment of UNAMID. Progress was a noted on all topics raised in our first Tripartite Committee meeting on 7 October, and we agreed that continued cooperation of this kind will be essential to the deployment of UNAMID. We will meet again in early 2009 in Addis Ababa to follow up further. We are moving equipment more quickly, preparing to receive troops more efficiently and working with the Government on deployment matters more effectively. These are all positive developments, but I must stress that we are making these gains in a volatile security environment. I mentioned earlier that ongoing insecurity has made it necessary for the Secretary- General to designate Darfur as a phase four security zone. The practical implication of this designation is that we must work to ensure that our mission is able to function, even if the situation deteriorates, and we must also of course take all measures to ensure the safety of our personnel. One concrete result of this phase four situation is that we are forced to delay the deployment of approximately two hundred unarmed United Nations police officers to Darfur, until we are able to ensure that provisions have been put in place for their overall security. Under normal circumstances, these police officers could deploy and they are ready in their capitals to do so. But, given the security situation in Darfur today, they will not be able to do their work until the minimum number of armed formed police units (FPUs) is in place, since the armed units provide direct operational support to United Nations police, including by securing their working environment. This is only one of the many challenges we face, but I am drawing it to your attention, because if we fall short of the 60 per cent target by approximately one per cent, it will because deployment of these United Nations police officers has been temporarily delayed until we have a combination of an improved security situation and more formal police units on the ground. With our year’s end deadline only days away, we are already working hard to achieve the best possible deployment results for the rest of 2009. As the Council is aware, we have set ourselves a deadline of achieving 80 per cent deployment by the end of March, and the challenges we face in reaching this goal are well known to all. We will build on our efforts to further strengthen the specific measures we have put in place to move equipment and prepare sites more effectively. We will also, of course, be completely transparent with the Council about our progress. In this regard, I would like to state that the readiness of troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and police-contributing countries (PCCs) to deploy military and formed police units will be a particularly important factor in our collective efforts to finally bring UNAMID to its authorized strength. Given that the timelines required to organize and implement these strategic movements are quite fixed and irreducible, it is critical for us that TCCs and PCCs undertake the range of pre-deployment preparations as rapidly as possible. Two days ago, we met with TCC and PCC representatives to stress this point. This is no small task and we are placing a significant burden on troop- and police-contributing countries. The equipment and capabilities required to work in Darfur are considerable and the environment is highly demanding. They must therefore be meticulous in their preparations to ensure that the units they deploy are ready to face the enormous challenges associated with deploying into Darfur. Our top priority continues to be the full deployment of UNAMID and the pursuit of peace in Darfur. We look forward to continued cooperation from the Government in this regard, and I will need the sustained support of this Council and the continued collaboration of troop- and police-contributing and partner countries as we work together to achieve this goal.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

At the outset, I wish to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, which should be a source of pride four your friendly country. I would like to thank Mr. Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, and Ms. Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, for their briefings to the Council on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). These deliberations of the Council come towards the end of 2008, as we are preparing to receive a new year and the Sudan is looking forward with determination to put an end to the conflict in Darfur as soon as possible, especially as we have a comprehensive and integrated national plan based on the decisions and recommendations of the Sudan People’s Forum. This, as I have assured the Council before, is not an isolated effort nor is it parallel to the regional or international efforts. It is indeed a translation of a common national Sudanese position, shared by all the opposition political parties and the Government in the Sudan. It also forms a basis for the promising regional efforts presented in the Arab- African initiative led by the brotherly State of Qatar, as well as the mandate of the Joint Chief Mediator Mr. Djibril Bassolé, namely, to arrive at an early peace next year, if all these initiatives can be heeded by those armed groups that reject the option of peace. I would like to inform this Council that the normalization of relations with the neighbouring State of Chad is moving forward smoothly, and it will have its positive impacts regarding lasting peace and stability in Darfur. Needless to say, the Security Council is expected to support these efforts and to provide prompt movement and serious action with regard to the leaders of the armed groups. It is our hope that the Council will invite Mr. Bassolé to New York in the near future to review his work during the past month and what he intends to do in the future. It is our hope that Mr. Bassolé will come and brief this Council on efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the crisis in Darfur. The third section of the report before us, which deals with UNAMID deployment in Darfur, clearly and decisively shows that the Government of Sudan has fulfilled all of its obligations regarding cooperation and facilitation of UNAMID deployment in Darfur. During its previous deliberations on the issue and at this meeting the Council has been briefed on the great efforts that are being made to facilitate the deployment of the operation, whereby we have agreed to establish a UNAMID liaison office in Al-Fashir headed by a high- level official and including all Government institutions and agencies to ensure the flow, speed of all procedures and the implementation of what was agreed upon. That was decided by the tripartite mechanism that Ms. Malcorra talked about and where we have on all the necessary arrangements to follow up and implement the decisions of the previous meeting, including preparations to deploy light tactical helicopters. This leaves no room for any allegations that the Government of the Sudan is complicating the deployment of the operation. I would like to assure you that my Government is fully committed to continued cooperation with the United Nations in order to implement 60 per cent of the development by the end of this year and 80 per cent by March 2009. We would like to assure this Council that our country is fully committed to the ceasefire declared by the President of the Republic and to pushing it forward; we reiterate our country’s commitment to that ceasefire declaration here today. Some movements, gangs and thieves have carried out a series of bandit attacks on police units since the ceasefire was announced. That was an attempt to provoke the Government. It is our hope that the Security Council will play its role by putting pressure on armed groups to accept the ceasefire and that they will thus respect Security Council statements and resolutions. As for the humanitarian aspect, we thank the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, for his direct and clear briefing the Council on 3 December. He stated that the armed groups in Darfur have started targeting humanitarian convoys and have, on a regular basis, been hijacking cars and stealing other items and taking them across the border to sell them. Thus any talk about obstacles impeding humanitarian activities must take into consideration these practices, which have become a lucrative business for armed groups. We appreciate the fact that the report of the Secretary-General before you welcomes, in paragraph 42, the 18 November declaration of the Government of the Sudan allowing for the extension of the provision of humanitarian assistance until 31 January 2010. I refer to the progress report presented by the Government of the Sudan on the workshop, which included the United Nations and the donor community, last November, a report that we deposited with the Council and which reflects the effort of the Sudan regarding the humanitarian aspect. The several positive developments on all tracks and the full cooperation of the Government of the Sudan in recent months must be supported and appreciated by this Council. This Council should protect the peace process from any threats or irresponsible adventures like those of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. This Council must recognize that this matter has also been raised by the African Union, the principal partner of the United Nations in Darfur. Other regional and international organizations have also declared that the peace process should be spared such adventures. While we, once again, call your attention to our cooperation with the Security Council, we hope that the Council will record for history that it will side with peace and stability in the Sudan and that it is possible to make 2009 a year for peace and stability in the Sudan and the entire region.

There are no more speakers inscribed on my list. In conformity with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I now invite Council members to informal consultations in order to continue our discussion on the subject.