Panafrican News Agency

UNAMID relocates new headquarters in Zalingei

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) on Tuesday officially relocated its head office from North to Central Darfur, saying the move comes within the forces phase out plans

UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR), Jeremiah Mamabolo, and the Governor of Central Darfur State, Mohammad Ahmed Jadelsid, officially inaugurated the new Mission Headquarters (HQ) in Zalingei, Central Darfur, the peacekeeping mission said in a statement, received by PANA in Khartoum on Tuesday.

It said the new HQ has been operational since October 2018, when key Mission components were relocated there from Fashir.

UNAMID’s move of its HQ from Fashir, North Darfur, to Zalingei is part of the Mission’s ongoing reconfiguration plan, mandated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2429 (2018).

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, UNAMID said the JSR thanked the Government of Sudan at both federal and state levels for their cooperation in facilitating the relocation process.

“This occasion marks an important milestone for the Darfur transition in general, and for UNAMID in particular. The new Mission headquarters we are formally inaugurating today, demonstrates the positive dynamics in Darfur’s peace process and is indicative of the increasing stability in the region,” Mr. Mamabolo, was quoted as saying.

He further called on Darfur rebel leader, Abdul Wahid Al Nour, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) and his sympathizers to “seriously consider the benefits that peace would bring to Darfur as a whole and the Jebel Mara area in particular.”

On his part, the Central Darfur Governor, Mr. Jadelsid, expressed his pleasure for the relocation of UNAMID’s HQ to Central Darfur State and renewed his government’s support to the Mission in implementing its mandate.

“I would like to thank UNAMID for its contribution to projects such as capacity building of the judiciary and law enforcement institutions, rehabilitation of schools and roads which positively impacted the daily lives of the people in the state,” he stated.

“We hope that the move of the Mission’s HQ to Zalingei would create the opportunity for increasing its support for such projects which would further enhance stability and development the state is witnessing,” the he concluded.

The release said the inauguration was attended by Government of Sudan officials, Native Administration and civil society representatives, Mission leadership, peacekeepers and other UNAMID Personnel.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 22Jan2019