Showing posts with label Martin Luther Agwai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Luther Agwai. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

UNAMID's Agwai: Darfur rebels have been emboldened by the international community’s almost exclusive focus on Khartoum to deliver peace

Quote of the Day
"These men with guns do not represent their peoples, the vast majority of whom yearn for peace. The movements have had it too easy for too long. It is time for them to demonstrate that they are serious about peace. They must lay down their weapons and sit around the negotiating table with the government”. - UNAMID commander, General Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria

Martin Luther Agwai

From Radio Dabanga, Tuesday, 18 August 2009:
Leaving UN-commander Darfur: ‘Rebels do not represent their peoples’
EL FASHER – The UNAMID force commander, the Nigerian general Martin Luther Agwai will hand over his duties to a new force commander Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba of Rwanda. He will be the commander with effect from 1 September.

The transmission of powers will take place today. The ceremony will be attended by Al Hag Atta Al Mannan on behalf of the government. Also Minni Arkuoi Minnawi, senior assistant to the president and the only rebel leader who signed the Darfur Peace Agreement, will attend.

Martin Luther Agwai blamed mainly the rebel movements for the current stalemate in the Darfur conflict. For the Indian national newspaper he said:
“When the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed in 2006 less than a handful of movements were involved in the conflict. Today there are something like 30.

As the movements have splintered into new factions, the prospects for a settlement have diminished. For too long these men have escaped censure, benefiting from the international community’s almost exclusive focus on the government in Khartoum to deliver peace. In fact they have been positively emboldened by it.

These men with guns do not represent their peoples, the vast majority of whom yearn for peace. (…) The movements have had it too easy for too long. It is time for them to demonstrate that they are serious about peace. They must lay down their weapons and sit around the negotiating table with the government”.
He defended himself against criticism for not been able to provide security for the Darfurian population by stating that
‘There’s no peace for us to keep. The Darfur conflict has lasted almost as long as World War II, with the prospects of a lasting settlement looking less likely than ever”. 
He also blamed the lack of effectiveness of UNAMID for the lack of equipment, troops and helicopters. During his command UNAMID lost 39 people, most due to violent attacks. Amongst them were 24 troops, 9 police, 1 military observer, 1 international civilian and 4 local civilian (Source figures: UNAMID website).
Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba

Photo: Lt Gen Nyamvumba's tour of duty will be from 1 September 2009 for a period of one year. Three generals competed for the post in an interview that was conducted in New York on 5 May 2009. (MOD, Rwanda)
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Article (from Sudan Watch archives) by AFP, Wednesday, 12 August 2008:
Darfur rebels are no saints, says UN-AU military chief
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The military commander of the UN-African Union mission in Darfur on Tuesday urged the world community to put as much pressure on the fragmented insurgency in the war-torn Sudanese region as it does on the Khartoum government.

Martin Luther Agwai, force commander of the joint mission known as UNAMID, told reporters that while it is popular to "bash" the Sudanese government, the reluctance of Darfur rebels to negotiate was often forgotten.

"It takes two to tango," Agwai noted. "Sometimes we forget about them (the rebels). Every day, they say they are fighting for the poor people of Darfur and yet what have they done to show even interest to go to the conference table?

"I am not in any way saying that the (Khartoum) government is clean. But what I am saying is that also the other side cannot be said to be saints. So my appeal is that the pressure should be exerted on both sides."

He said there were now around 30 different rebel groups involved in the conflict, compared to four when the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in 2006.

Agwai called on Darfur insurgents to unite and come to the negotiating table, which he said was the only way to achieve peace.
"They will have to end on a negotiation table because militarily it's clear no side can win the war in Darfur," he said. "But if you have 15, 20 parties wanting to go to conference table to talk, nothing will come out of it."

The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.2 million displaced since the conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, began in February 2003. Sudan claims 10,000 have died.

Since UNAMID began its operations nearly eight months ago, only a third of the 26,000 authorized troops have been deployed.

Agwai said he hoped the force would reach 80 percent deployment by December and full deployment by next August.

UNAMID has said it needs 18 transport helicopters and six attack helicopters which are crucial to give the force the required mobility and firepower.

But no country has so far have provided them.

On July 8, seven UNAMID peacekeepers were killed and 22 injured after they were ambushed by up to 200 heavily-armed gunmen. Agwai said lives could have been saved if the mission had had helicopters.

"Unfortunately, we are sent to the boxing ring with our hands tied behind us," he said, referring more broadly to the lack of adequate equipment and logistical support. "But we will try kickboxing if we can't do hand boxing."

Agwai, a former chief of defense staff of the Nigerian army, was appointed UNAMID force commander in September 2007 after initially turning down the job.

"I was told I was going to command the largest ever UN peacekeeping force on earth," he said. "Little did I know that it's going to be on paper and not in reality."
A la Une - Le général Agwai poursuit sa visite auprès des troupes stationnées au Darfour

Photo: Le général Martin Luther Agwai. Source: collectifvan.org: A la Une - Le général Agwai poursuit sa visite auprès des troupes stationnées au Darfour.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Security situation in Darfur - Aug 12, 2009

During the past 24 hours, the security situation in Darfur has been reported to be relatively calm.

UNAMID peacekeepers in West Darfur have been conducting farming patrols in a number of villages, including the village of Mabruka about 12 kilometres from El Geneina town, Albanjadid village and Mukjar as part of confidence building and to assist the local community during the rainy season.

While on patrol, the team interacted with the Government of Sudan police and the local community who confirmed that the security situation was calm in the areas.

UNAMID military and police continue to conduct patrols in and around the villages and IDP camps.

Advance party of Tanzanian battalion arrive to boost UNAMID deployment

The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today received a boost in its deployment with the arrival of 200 personnel advance party of the first Tanzanian Battalion in Darfur. The primary responsibilities of the Tanzanian advance party will be to prepare the camp site for the arrival of the main battalion and to support the distribution of its contingent owned equipment (COE).

The main body of the Tanzanian Battalion is expected to arrive in the Mission by mid September. They will be deployed in Khor Abeche and Muhajeria in South Darfur.

Currently Tanzania contributes 13 Military observers, 14 staff officers, and 3 liaison officers to the Mission. Tanzania also contributes 29 police advisers. With the new arrival, the total number of military forces deployed in the Mission is 14,182, representing over 70% of its authorized strength.

UNAMID is mandated to assist the parties to the conflict in Darfur in implementing the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and any subsequent agreement. It will do so through contributing to the protection of civilians and the creation of security conditions that would allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian aid as well as the voluntary return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes, thus paving the way for the reconciliation and confidence building necessary for durable peace, security and stability in Darfur.

UNAMID Force Commander visits South Darfur

UNAMID Force Commander General Martin Luther Agwai today visited the South Darfur capital of Nyala, upon arrival, the Force Commander met with UNAMID officials who briefed him on the Mission’s operational activities including challenges and achievements made. During the visit, General Martin Luther Agwai inaugurated the Pakistani Level III hospital and also attended the medal parade organized in honor of the Bangladeshi multi-role logistics company.

Source: United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, August 12, 2009/(APO) - UNAMID Daily Media Brief/2009-08-12

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Situation in Darfur stabilising - New UNAMID Force Commander Rwandan Lt Gen Nyamvumba

General Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria, who is stepping down as commander of the joint UN-AU force (UNAMID) at the end of the month, is to be succeeded by Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba, currently chief of logistics of the Rwandan Defense Forces.

Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba

Photo: Lt Gen Nyamvumba's tour of duty will be from 1 September 2009 for a period of one year. Three generals competed for the post in an interview that was conducted in New York on 5 May 2009. (MOD, Rwanda)

From AFP by Gerard Aziakou, 06 August 2009:
Situation in Darfur stabilizing: outgoing UN-AU force chief
UNITED NATIONS — The situation in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region is stabilizing with UN-African Union peacekeepers able to provide improved security but still in need of crucial air mobility, their outgoing commander said here Thursday.

"We have been able to stabilize the situation in Darfur. But there are still a lot of challenges," said General Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria, who is stepping down as commander of the joint UN-AU force (UNAMID) at the end of the month.

He told a press conference that more and more Darfurians were venturing out of internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps to cultivate their lands in their villages and some were even voluntarily returning to their homes.

"That means there's more security," he noted, while conceding that UNAMID's current strength did not allow it to provide security to all the IDPs camps.

Only the bigger camps housing up to 100,000 people had 24/7 security, said Agwai, adding that the situation should improve when an estimated 92 percent of the force's mandated strength of 26,000 is expected to be deployed by the end of the year.

Agwai, a former Nigerian armed forces chief of staff, noted that there were now 100 to 150 deaths a month in Darfur, down from hundreds or thousands in the past. The number of rape and assault cases has also dropped, he added.

But he made it clear that UNAMID still faced major challenges, chief among the lack of transport helicopters to provide crucial air mobility in the vast, arid territory.

He said that while five attack helicopters provided by Ethiopia would soon be deployed in Darfur, "nobody in the world has pledged" any of the 18 transport helicopters which UN chief Ban Ki-moon has requested.
"They are a real necessity," he pleaded.

He also cited the stalled peace process between Khartoum and the fragmented Darfur insurgency as another major impediment.

But Agwai welcomed warming ties between Washington and Khartoum, including the role played by US special envoy for Sudan Scott Gration, whose conciliatory comments were likely to encourage Khartoum to be more cooperative.

"The US has a big role to play in peace in Darfur," Agwai said.

Khartoum has welcomed a statement by Gration, President Barack Obama's hand-picked Sudan troubleshooter, that there was "no evidence" to support keeping it on a US terrorism blacklist that triggers punishing economic sanctions.

Gration, a retired general, said such measures, aimed at punishing the Khartoum government, were "actually hurting the very development" needed to keep a fragile peace in Sudan and give hope to people driven from their homes.

The soft-spoken Agwai, who was appointed UNAMID force commander in May 2007 is to be succeeded by Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba, currently chief of logistics of the Rwandan Defense Forces.

On July 30, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to keep the joint UN-African Union force (UNAMID) in Darfur region for another year until July 31 2010 to ensure the protection of civilians an densure "safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access."

It adopted a resolution calling on the government and rebels in Darfur to remove all obstacles to the UNAMID mission, and explicitly demanding that the Sudanese government provide visas and flight clearances for UNAMID personnel.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

UNAMID commander Martin Luther Agwai based in Darfur, Sudan asked to resign?

News tip just received via email. Not sure whether to publish it or not as I am not familiar with the Dallas Blog and cannot find the story elsewhere. I have decided to publish the below copied news reports because Inner City Press reports have in the past proved correct. I have used red to highlight some of the text for future reference. How disappointing if the following news is true.

From Dallas Blog
Head UN Darfur Peacekeeper Asked to Resign
by Tom McGregor , Saturday, July 4, 2009, 12:35 PM [USA]
tmcgregordallas@yahoo.com
In a stunning development, Martin Luther Agwai, a UNAMID force commander based in Darfur, Sudan, was asked to step down from his prestigious position at the United Nations, two days after the Texas Republic News posted a story about his wife, Ruth Agwai, on June 15, 2009, according to sources knowledgeable on behind-the-scenes activities of the UN. His wife works as an unlicensed nurse for Medical Services at an occupational health clinic inside the UN headquarters building in New York City.

Martin Luther Agwai

The Texas Republic News revealed that Mrs. Agwai lived in a multi-million dollar town home in Manhattan, "never legally obtained a registered nursing license in her country of origen," received financial payments from ECOSOC, an agency which distributes financial and material aid to Third World nations, and billed an excessive expense account to the UN to pay for first class travel accomodations when she attended a 'World's AIDS Day' conference in Lagos, Nigeria on November 27, 2007.
Recently, the Dallas Blog posted an article, which links Ruth Agwai to Planned Parenthood in Nigeria as revealed by internal UN documents. Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria partly funded a summit that she attended in Nigeria.
The Inner City Press posted an article on June 19, 2009, stating: "the departure of Martin Luther Agwai as UNAMID force commander in Darfur would take place as questions have been raised about the UN's employment of his wife Ruth Agwai in the UN Medical Service, and her moonlighting for an NGO for the wives of Nigerian generals."
Fox News frequently cites Inner City Press articles when posting UN stories.
Nevertheless, the director of UN Medical Service, Brian Davey, an unlicensed doctor, never imposed any sanctions against Ruth Agwai upon hearing the news that she was exposed in a Texas Republic News article. Ironically, it may have been her husband who suffered the consequences over her alleged misdeeds. Some employees at the UN are raising concerns that Mr. Davey had been too soft on Ruth Agwai, but too tough on other staff members who are unfriendly to Mrs. Agwai.
The Dallas Blog has obtained more damaging UN internal documents which reveal negative information about Ruth Agwai as well as many other staff members at UN Medical Service, which will later be exposed in more follow-up stories.
To read the entire article from the Inner City Press, link here: To read a French article about Martin Luther Agwai's resignation, link here: To read the Texas Republic News article, link here.
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A la Une - Le général Agwai poursuit sa visite auprès des troupes stationnées au Darfour

Photo: Le général Martin Luther Agwai. Source: collectifvan.org: A la Une - Le général Agwai poursuit sa visite auprès des troupes stationnées au Darfour.  From Wikipedia:
General Martin Luther Agwai is a Nigerian military officer who is the current commander of the combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur.  Throughout his career, General Agwai has held a variety of prominent positions, including Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff in the Nigerian government. His positions in the United Nations have included Deputy Military Advisor to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (November 2002-June 2003), and Deputy Force Commander of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), from November 2000 to November 2002.
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From Texas Republic News
by Tom McGregor
tmcgregordallas@yahoo.com
Special to Texas Republic News
June 15, 2009
Nurse With a Multi-Million Dollar Town Home
Yet, an unlicensed Medical Services registered nurse working inside the UN headquarters building in New York City, Ruth Agwai, had never legally obtained a registered nursing license in her country of origin, Nigeria, according to confidential sources, knowledgeable on the inner-sanctum of the U.N. Actually, other nurses do not have proper documentation to work as licensed registered nurse in New York State. Fox News previously reported that Ms. Agwai exploited her diplomatic privileges granted by the Nigerian Mission to take medical supplies overseas. Sources have confirmed to the TRN that Fox News correctly reported on this matter.

Ironically, public records reveal that Ms. Agwai lives in a multi-million dollar town home in Manhattan (E. 34th St. New York, N.Y.) and she frequently touts her diplomatic credentials among her rich and powerful friends. Her passport clearly identifies her status as a diplomat. UN Documents reveal that she receives funding from an NGO called ECOSOC, which is an agency with an intended purpose of sending financial and material aid to impoverished nations.

She also travels around the world taking advantage of first-class accommodations paid for by the U.N. According to a U.N. budgetary fact sheet, Mrs. Agwai traveled with 12 delegates to Lagos, Nigeria on November 27, 2007. She attended an event to “commemorate the World AIDS Day celebrated yearly.” Documents show what appears to be an inordinately excessive cost for hotel stays billed to the UN. Mrs. Agwai’s expenses came while she was working in an agency charged with helping poor people in Third World African countries.

Furthermore, U.N. paperwork discloses that ECOSOC money is being diverted to NAOWA (Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association) under the apparent pretext that the association – of which Agawi serves as the National President – is assisting in work training of Nigerian women.

To read the entire Fox News article, link here; to verify licenses of UN doctors and nurses, link here: and to read about how Medical Services funds AIDS prevention measures, link here: To read the ECOSOC website, link here.
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From UNAMID, EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, Wed, July 02, 2009 (via APO):
Daily press briefing by the office of the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.
The Force Commander for the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur, (UNAMID), General Martin Luther Agwai, has continued to visit troops across Darfur. Today General Agwai visited an Egyptian Battalion deployed in Ed Al Fursan in South Darfur. His new Deputy, General Duma Dumisani has also been out in the field visiting the South Darfuri towns of Nyala, El Daein and Muhajeriya.

In the meantime, the Civil Affairs Section of UNAMID has held a one-day workshop on Social Peacebuilding in Nyala. The key issues that were tackled included, how to solve land disputes among different groups, transitional justice, as well as how to prevent clashes between farmers and pastoralists. The workshop was attended by civil society organizations, government officials and participants from Nyala University.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

UNAMID: Security situation in Darfur March 30, 2009

From United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan
March 30, 2009 Daily Media Brief via APO March 31, 2009
Security Situation in Darfur

During the past 72 hours, the security situation in Darfur has remained relatively calm; however, banditry activities and car-jacking incidents were reported in North and West Darfur.

A UNAMID vehicle was car-jacked on 26 March by unknown armed men in the Kifah area, about 500 metres from UNAMID headquarters in El Geneina, West Darfur. The men stopped the vehicle and ordered the staff members out of the car. The car-ackers drove away in the direction of El Geneina’s market. The incident was reported to Government of Sudan police and National Security.

A vehicle belonging to an NGO was car-jacked by unknown armed men on 28 March in the vicinity of Hamadia, near the town of Zalingei in West Darfur. The car-jacker ordered the driver, who was not injured, out of the vehicle. The incident was reported to GoS Police.

Meanwhile, UNAMID conducted 25 confidence-building patrols, 16 escort patrols and six night patrols covering 46 villages/IDP camps. Similarly, UNAMID Police conducted 90 patrols in and around the villages and IDP camps.

Fire causes damage at IDP camp in West Darfur

A fire broke out last night at Al Riyad camp for internally displaced Persons (IDP) camp, near El Geneina in West Darfur, causing heavy damage to about 35 shelters, the loss of many animals, and leaving a large number of people homeless. A UNAMID investigation team was dispatched to the camp to probe the cause of the fire.

UNAMID receives advance party of the 2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion


The advance party of the 2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion, consisting of 100 personnel, arrived in Nyala today to join UNAMID. Another 100 personnel are expected to arrive tomorrow. The advance party consists mainly of engineering personnel with light capability to prepare the location for the arrival of the main body of the Battalion.

The main body is scheduled to arrive within four months, bringing the battalion’s expected total to 850 peacekeepers. They will be deployed in Ed El Fursan and Tulus in South Darfur.

Egypt’s contribution to the Mission already includes one infantry battalion, one engineering unit, one signal company and one heavy transport company. This brings the total number of Egyptians serving with UNAMID, including the new arrivals, to 1,771.
UNAMID Force Commander visits troops in North Darfur

UNAMID Force Commander, General Martin Luther Agwai, today paid a visit to the troops deployed in Tawilla and Sortoni, North Darfur. The trip is part of the Force Commander’s routine visits to the troops stationed around the region.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

UNAMID: Security situation in Darfur March 26, 2009

From United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan
March 26, 2009 Daily Media Brief via APO
Security situation in Darfur

The security situation in Darfur was reported to be relatively calm with few incidents of banditry activities.

A medical officer with an NGO clinic in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, reported that two unknown armed men broke into his house and fled with 2700 Sudanese pounds, a satellite phone and a mobile phone. The incident was reported to Government of Sudan (GoS) Police.

Meanwhile, UNAMID military and police personnel continue to conduct their daily activities including confidence-building patrols, escorts and night patrols. UNAMID Military conducted 23 confidence-building patrols, 14 escort patrols and seven night patrols covering 41 villages and IDP camps. UNAMID Police conducted 88 patrols in and around the villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID facilitates airlift of exam materials to North Darfur schools

UNAMID today assisted in the airlift of exam materials to remote secondary schools located across North Darfur. Three helicopter flights distributed the exam papers for 12 subjects to nine locations around the state, including Umm Kaddada, Kutum and Malha.

This is the second such airlift that UNAMID has conducted for the 2009 certificate examinations, which are being held across Sudan and are scheduled to start on 30 March 2009.

One of the teachers supervising the distribution of the materials, Abdalla Ahmed Bakeet, thanked the Mission for its assistance, which followed a request from the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur.

“These exams are very expensive to organize so it’s very kind of UNAMID to help out with the flights,” he said. “All the people of Darfur thank them.”
Abu Shouk refugee camp

Photo: UNAMID peacekeepers patrol a road at the Abu Shouk refugee camp, near the Darfur town of al-Fasher, Sudan, Thursday, March 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

UNAMID force commander

Photo: UNAMID force commander Gen. Martin Agwai, center salutes his officers, unseen as he leaves after his visit to the Nertiti military base near the southern Darfur town of Nertiti, Sudan Tuesday, March 24, 2009. Gen. Agwai conducted a one day field trip that included two of his operating UNAMID military units in the Darfur remote towns of Kas and Nertiti. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

UNAMID: Security situation in Darfur relatively calm

Report from UNAMID communication and public information division:
UNAMID / Security situation in Darfur

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, March 3, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The security situation in Darfur has been reported to be relatively calm; UNAMID forces are conducting their normal activities, including robust patrolling, and they are closely monitoring the situation throughout the region.

UNAMID was informed by Government authorities in El Fasher that a military show of force would be conducted in El Fasher tomorrow between 0930 and 1600 hours.

Force Commander visits Egyptian engineering company

UNAMID Force Commander, General Martin Luther Agwai, today visited the Egyptian engineering company that is based in El Fasher and commended them for their efforts in constructing and expanding several UNAMID camps in Darfur and upgrading the El Fasher Airport since their arrival in the middle of last year.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Radewan, commander of the engineering company, briefed General Agwai on recent developments. The company has a total strength of 335 peacekeepers, including one road platoon, one construction platoon, one water supply platoon, a combat engineering platoon, an administrative and medical section and a protection force platoon.

Meanwhile, the final batch of additions to the Egyptian infantry battalion, consisting of 93 personnel, arrived in El Fasher today. They will join the rest of the battalion, which is deployed in the North Darfur town of Umm Kaddada.

Shooting incident in El Fasher, North Darfur

Further to yesterday’s report about a shooting incident at the Manawashi Market in El Fasher, North Darfur, UNAMID was advised that a group of militiamen were firing in the market and had attempted to loot shops, allegedly due to their discontent with not having received salaries. One person was killed and six wounded in the incident.

Upon his return from Khartoum to El Fasher later in the day, the Wali of North Darfur visited the wounded in the local hospital. An outraged crowd demonstrating against the looting reportedly began throwing stones at his vehicle, prompting the Wali’s close protection team to begin shooting in the air. No injuries were reported.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Darfur rebels are no saints, says UN-AU military chief

Article from AFP, Wednesday, 12 August 2008:
Darfur rebels are no saints, says UN-AU military chief
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The military commander of the UN-African Union mission in Darfur on Tuesday urged the world community to put as much pressure on the fragmented insurgency in the war-torn Sudanese region as it does on the Khartoum government.

Martin Luther Agwai, force commander of the joint mission known as UNAMID, told reporters that while it is popular to "bash" the Sudanese government, the reluctance of Darfur rebels to negotiate was often forgotten.

"It takes two to tango," Agwai noted. "Sometimes we forget about them (the rebels). Every day, they say they are fighting for the poor people of Darfur and yet what have they done to show even interest to go to the conference table?

"I am not in any way saying that the (Khartoum) government is clean. But what I am saying is that also the other side cannot be said to be saints. So my appeal is that the pressure should be exerted on both sides."

He said there were now around 30 different rebel groups involved in the conflict, compared to four when the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in 2006.

Agwai called on Darfur insurgents to unite and come to the negotiating table, which he said was the only way to achieve peace.
"They will have to end on a negotiation table because militarily it's clear no side can win the war in Darfur," he said. "But if you have 15, 20 parties wanting to go to conference table to talk, nothing will come out of it."

The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.2 million displaced since the conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, began in February 2003. Sudan claims 10,000 have died.

Since UNAMID began its operations nearly eight months ago, only a third of the 26,000 authorized troops have been deployed.

Agwai said he hoped the force would reach 80 percent deployment by December and full deployment by next August.

UNAMID has said it needs 18 transport helicopters and six attack helicopters which are crucial to give the force the required mobility and firepower.

But no country has so far have provided them.

On July 8, seven UNAMID peacekeepers were killed and 22 injured after they were ambushed by up to 200 heavily-armed gunmen. Agwai said lives could have been saved if the mission had had helicopters.

"Unfortunately, we are sent to the boxing ring with our hands tied behind us," he said, referring more broadly to the lack of adequate equipment and logistical support. "But we will try kickboxing if we can't do hand boxing."

Agwai, a former chief of defense staff of the Nigerian army, was appointed UNAMID force commander in September 2007 after initially turning down the job.

"I was told I was going to command the largest ever UN peacekeeping force on earth," he said. "Little did I know that it's going to be on paper and not in reality."

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Gen. Martin L. Agwai of Nigeria appointed new Force Commander of AMIS

Late May 2007 news report excerpt [insert link]:
Yesterday Mr. Konare, in consultation with Mr. Ban, appointed Gen. Martin L. Agwai of Nigeria – who has previously served the UN in Sierra Leone and as a military adviser – as the new Force Commander of AMIS.

“The Secretary-General welcomes this decision and looks forward to Gen. Agwai’s close cooperation with the UN to facilitate the deployment of the Heavy Support Package for AMIS and to eventually command the hybrid AU-UN operation in Darfur,” his spokesperson said in a statement issued today.
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Hugs and kisses not war

Kouchner and SLM-Nur

Photo: The leader of the SLM, Abdelwhaid al-Nur, welcomed by the former French minister Bernard Kouchner, March 20, 2007. (AP via Sudan Tribune)

French air bridge in Chad

June 18, 2007 Islam Online report excerpt:
The first flight of a French air bridge to ferry humanitarian aid to victims of the Darfur crisis touched down Sunday in Goz Beida town, is 90 kilometers from the Sudanese border.

"To start with, we will be transporting from N'Djamena priority items -- mats, water bottles, blankets and so forth -- that are sorely lacking as the rainy season nears," Colonel Jean-Bruno Vautrey, head of the French military in Chad, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

There are 40,000 of Darfur refugees along with two-thirds of the 150,000 Chadians displaced by communal and trans-border fighting are in the Dar Sila region that includes Goz Beida.

Vautrey said the air bridge would continue "so long as the state of the runway is not put in danger and there is a need to fulfill. Aid will be evaluated once a week."

Some 50 French military personnel are currently in Goz Beida.

The air bridge was announced earlier June by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who stressed the "urgency" of the situation in the region with the onset of the rainy season.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed the air bridge, hoping it would "help avoid any critical gaps in our operation to feed thousands of people".