Report of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 6 (c) of Security Council resolution 1881 (2009), by which the Council requested me to report every 90 days on progress made towards implementing the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) across Darfur, as well as on the political process, the security and humanitarian situation and compliance by all parties with their international obligations. It covers the period from 1 February 2010 to 30 April 2010. As requested, the report also assesses progress made during the reporting period against benchmarks presented to the Council in my report of 16 November 2009 (S/2009/592). II. Political developments 2. The reporting period witnessed several positive developments in the Darfur peace process. On 23 February 2010 in Doha, a Framework Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in Darfur between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was signed. It had been negotiated and initialled in N’Djamena on 20 February 2010 under the auspices of Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno. The Presidents of the Sudan, Chad and Eritrea and the Emir of Qatar were present at the ceremony. The Agreement, which builds on the goodwill agreement of 17 February 2009 between JEM and the Government of the Sudan, includes the declaration of an immediate ceasefire, a commitment to release prisoners of war and the undertaking to negotiate a final peace agreement by 15 March 2010. Following the signing of the Agreement, the Government of the Sudan immediately released 57 JEM prisoners of war. Although the parties failed to agree on a ceasefire implementation protocol or a final agreement by the 15 March deadline, the ceasefire between JEM and the Government has largely been respected. 3. In the negotiations, significant steps were also taken towards the unification of armed movements. On 23 February 2010, the creation of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) was announced, merging members of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Revolutionary Forces (Tripoli Group) and part of the Road Map Group (Addis Ababa Group) into a single new movement under the leadership of Eltigani Seisi Mohamed Ateem. The Government of the Sudan and LJM immediately engaged in negotiations and signed the Framework Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in Darfur in Doha on 18 March 2010. The mediation plans to manage the negotiations with JEM and LJM in parallel in the first stage, and then to merge the two sets of negotiations with a view to the conclusion of a final settlement. 4. In April 2010, the mediation conducted a series of capacity-building workshops for the armed movements in order to strengthen their cohesion, as well as their capacity and readiness to engage in direct negotiations with the Government. UNAMID has provided experts, including on ceasefire arrangements, to support the mediation’s efforts. The mediation and UNAMID facilitated a workshop with LJM from 6 to 8 April 2010 on ceasefire implementation, in order to facilitate the cooperation between LJM and UNAMID and to enhance the stability of the ceasefire agreements. 5. Parallel negotiations between the Government of the Sudan and JEM on a detailed ceasefire agreement and between the Government and LJM on specific security arrangements continued until two days before the elections and are expected to resume in May 2010 with the newly elected Government in place. 6. Despite those positive developments, significant challenges remain in the peace process, including the ongoing insecurity and allegations of ceasefire violations, the lack of cohesion among the armed movements, the refusal by Abdul Wahid to participate, and limited progress towards the establishment of ceasefire arrangements and a comprehensive agreement. 7. In the context of the peace process, the mediation, in collaboration with UNAMID, launched a series of civil society consultations aimed at building on the conclusions of the first Darfur civil society conference, held in Doha on 18 November 2009. The consultations were designed to incorporate the views and interests of Darfur’s diverse communities into any future negotiations. 8. In January and February 2010, UNAMID conducted 32 conferences and public meetings throughout Darfur to disseminate the November 2009 Doha Civil Society Declaration on Darfur and to mobilize support among the population. While some groups of internally displaced persons, especially from camps in Western and Southern Darfur, had declined to take part in the conference in November 2009, several of them took part in the most recent round of consultations. 9. Additionally, civil society consultations have been expanded to include the nomadic communities and trade unions as well as the diaspora and refugee communities living in Chad. Preparatory consultations, in the form of workshops and public forums, covered 29 localities in the three Darfur States and included a total of 4,537 participants, 30 per cent of whom were women. Four consultations were conducted exclusively with women, on justice, reconciliation and compensation, land and security, and power-sharing and constitutional arrangements. UNAMID and the mediation are consolidating into an outcome document the recommendations provided by civil society in the consultations. Going forward, the mediation is planning to convene a second civil society conference, which will be held in Doha after the national elections. 10. There have been a number of positive developments towards the normalization of relations between the Sudan and Chad, including a 15 January 2010 agreement and a visit by President Déby to Khartoum on 8 and 9 February, during which the two leaders pledged to renew efforts aimed at peace and stability. The visit — the first since 2004 — and the subsequent appointment of a Chadian ambassador to Khartoum constitute concrete achievements in the international community’s efforts and a positive step towards enhancing security in Darfur. A joint border monitoring force consisting of 1,500 Sudanese troops and 1,500 Chadian troops has begun to deploy to the border area, and the rapprochement has had a positive impact on the security situation along the border, with no cross-border incidents recorded by UNAMID during the reporting period. However, the relocation of Chadian armed opposition groups from the border to Northern Darfur continues to create a risk of insecurity in those areas. 11. During the reporting period, the Joint Special Representative undertook consultations with parties to the conflict and a broad range of stakeholders, including Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations. The Joint Special Representative met with Abdul Wahid, leader of the Abdul Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), on two separate occasions to urge him to permit access to areas under his movement’s control, facilitate participation in the civil society consultations, and assist UNAMID in retrieving equipment lost during an ambush on 5 March 2010. In support of the mediation, he also urged Abdul Wahid to join the peace process, echoing the message that Abdul Wahid had been receiving from Joint Chief Mediator Djibrill Bassolé. 12. The Joint Special Representative hosted a retreat in Kigali on 27 February 2010 involving special envoys from China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the European Union, as well as the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), the mediation and the United Nations country team. The group discussed the nexus among peace, security, recovery and development in Darfur with a view to bringing greater synergy to the international community’s efforts in Darfur and capitalizing on the positive momentum generated by recent developments in the peace process. During the retreat, the Joint Special Representative outlined a strategy for taking forward the Operation’s mandate: (a) improved security on the ground, achieved through a robust posture on the part of the mission; (b) support for the work of the mediation in Doha; (c) support for the United Nations country team to ensure the provision of continuous and uninterrupted support to the people of Darfur; and (d) contribution to the ongoing efforts to normalize relations between Chad and the Sudan. 13. UNAMID has worked to ensure that conflict resolution in Darfur at the national and international levels is complemented by support for the resolution of local-level conflicts. Such conflicts have been exacerbated in recent years by environmental degradation, demographic growth and the weakening of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. UNAMID has continued to monitor and facilitate local reconciliation initiatives, particularly in Western and Northern Darfur, including through technical and logistical support for the Peace and Reconciliation Council of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority, the native administration and the reconciliation committees established under the traditional Ajaweed and Judiya systems. 14. In particular, UNAMID supported the native administration, local authorities and the Peace and Reconciliation Council in organizing three meetings and an intercommunal social coexistence ceremony held between the Birgid and the Zaghawa tribes on 23 February 2010 in Shangil Tobay, Northern Darfur. The ceremony brought together more than 1,000 people from the Zaghawa, the Birgid and other, affiliated tribes in a public manifestation of their commitment to peaceful coexistence. That was an encouraging development, as clashes between Zaghawa and Birgid have constituted a source of recurrent instability and civilian displacement since the clashes that occurred in Muhajeria, Southern Darfur, in February 2009. 15. In Western Darfur, UNAMID continued to support and monitor the activities of the native administration and the peace committees established to protect the reconciliation agreements reached in June 2009 between the Dourti community of internally displaced persons and the Arab community of Umm Al-Qura. Electoral process 16. With regard to the campaigning period that began on 13 February 2010, electoral campaigns, after a slow start, gradually intensified in Darfur. The campaign of the National Congress Party was the most visible throughout the region. The Popular Congress Party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and independents also campaigned vigorously, but other parties have claimed that the ongoing imposition of the 1997 State of Emergency Law restricted active campaigning. President Al-Bashir campaigned in Darfur on 24 February 2010, while then-presidential candidate Yasir Arman of SPLM held several rallies in Al Da’ein, Nyala and El Fasher in March 2010. 17. On 31 March 2010, SPLM announced that it was withdrawing the candidacy of Yasir Arman from the race for the presidency and that it would not contest elections in Darfur, stating that the electoral environment was not conducive to free and fair elections. The Communist Party of the Sudan, the National Umma Party and the Umma Reform and Renewal Party also withdrew their candidates from all levels of the elections. Opposition parties claimed that they were not satisfied with the response of the Government of the Sudan to their demands for reform of the electoral environment and postponement of the elections. Nevertheless, since the official deadline for the withdrawal of candidates had passed, the names of candidates who had announced their withdrawal remained on the ballots, and any votes cast for them will be counted by the National Elections Commission. 18. Although no major security incidents were reported during the campaigning period, challenges and constraints were nevertheless encountered, including sporadic violence and reports of intimidation. Between 5 and 7 March 2010, 13 opposition supporters were detained and reportedly beaten by members of the National Intelligence and Security Service in Arara, Western Darfur. Also in Western Darfur, two drivers were reported killed in an attack by unknown elements on a convoy composed of border guard security officers who had reportedly been campaigning for the National Congress Party. 19. In addition, opposition parties raised concerns regarding irregularities in the preparations for the elections. In Northern Darfur, opposition parties claimed that the relocation of numerous polling stations on the advice of State security authorities was politically motivated and had disproportionately affected their supporters. On 12 April 2010 in Western Darfur, it was reported that two members of the Democratic Union Party had been arrested in El Geneina by the National Intelligence and Security Service and released the next day, allegedly for having protested election irregularities. Also in Western Darfur, the State high committee declined to use UNAMID assets placed at its disposal for the transport of election materials, using Government military helicopters instead. UNAMID expressed concerns about that development to relevant Sudanese authorities. 20. With the exception of the Jebel Marra and Jebel Moon areas, voting took place in Darfur from 11 to 15 April 2010 (after the National Elections Commission had extended the polling from three to five days nationwide). Voting occurred in camps for internally displaced persons where polling centres had been established, although internally displaced persons in other camps, including Zalingei, did not participate. There were some reports of delays and logistical challenges, combined with a high security presence. There were also reports, denied by the National Intelligence and Security Service, of the arrest and harassment of opposition candidates or their supporters by Service officials. On 11 April 2010 in Southern Darfur, there were reports that internally displaced persons from the Kalma camp had been harassed and prevented from travelling to Nyala to vote. Also on 11 April, the sheikh of the Tabarak Allah area, in Northern Darfur, was reportedly detained by the National Intelligence and Security Service in Al Sereif, allegedly because of his political affiliation. 21. Despite the 23 February 2010 ceasefire between the Government and JEM, JEM commanders in Jebel Moon, Western Darfur, informed UNAMID that they would not allow electoral activities to take place in areas under their control and warned the Operation against moving within those areas during the polls or helping the Government to deliver electoral materials. The National Elections Commission confirmed that 14 out of the 23 polling stations in Serba (Kulbus), Western Darfur, were closed on the first day of polling. 22. While the European Union withdrew the 6 observers it had allocated to Darfur, for security reasons, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the United States, Japan, the Carter Centre and others sent at least 31 observers to Darfur. Domestic observers were also present. 23. UNAMID provided support to UNMIS and the National Elections Commission in preparation for the elections. UNAMID police provided training on elections security management, including crowd control, and a “training-the-trainers” course to 9,151 Government police officers across Darfur (3,118 Government of the Sudan officers from Northern Darfur, 2,913 from Southern Darfur and 3,120 from Western Darfur). In total, 8,810 officers at the operational level and 341 officers at the middle-management level from the three Sectors of Darfur were trained. 24. The United Nations also provided aviation and movement support for the elections, including the transport of 305 metric tons of polling material to 33 locations throughout Darfur. Five additional medium-utility helicopters were provided to UNAMID for electoral support. In addition, aviation support was provided, when required, to Sudanese State high committee staff members for travel from Darfur State capitals to Khartoum and back. Accommodation and limited transport were also provided to election observers. III. Security situation 25. While there have been some positive developments regarding the political process, several clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and SLA-Abdul Wahid forces in eastern Jebel Marra, as well as intermittent clashes between SAF and JEM before the signing of the Framework Agreement on 23 February 2010, occurred during the reporting period. In addition, intercommunal clashes were reported between the Misseriya and the Nawaiba-Rizeigat tribes in the Nertiti-Zalingei-Kas triangle, in Western and Southern Darfur. 26. Insecurity in Jebel Marra intensified in January 2010, following reported intrafactional fighting among SLA-Abdul Wahid groups and unconfirmed clashes between SAF and SLA-Abdul Wahid in Deribat, Suni, Leiba, Feina, Kara, Dobo and Fanga Suk villages. Both the Government of the Sudan and SLA-Abdul Wahid have claimed to control those locations, but, owing to the lack of access to the area, UNAMID has not been able to verify those claims. 27. While exact numbers of casualties and displaced persons have not been confirmed, the humanitarian community has estimated that approximately 2,000 households have been displaced to Nertiti, Western Darfur, as a result of violence, and community leaders and the Government of the Sudan Humanitarian Aid Commission estimate that 600 households have been displaced to Thur and 1,760 households to Guildo, Western Darfur. Newly displaced individuals in the Hassa Hissa camp for internally displaced persons, in Zalingei, Western Darfur, reported that their villages, east of Golo in Jebel Marra, had come under aerial bombardment and ground attack on 24 February 2010 by armed men in uniforms who had indiscriminately opened fire on civilians. UNAMID has thus far been unable to verify those claims. 28. In February 2010, looting activities were recorded along the Zalingei-Nertiti and Thur route, including the ambush on 19 February 2010 of a convoy of vehicles belonging to the Government of the Sudan water, environment and sanitation agency. In the ambush, a Government of the Sudan police officer belonging to the Misseriya tribe was killed by the perpetrators, suspected to be from the Nawaiba-Rizeigat tribe. A reconciliation committee was immediately formed to settle the case, and the two tribes agreed on the payment of compensation. 29. However, on 3 March 2010, an umda of the Misseriya tribe who was a member of the reconciliation committee was killed at the Khormala market in Western Darfur, allegedly by a Nawaiba gunman. This led to a series of reported clashes during March 2010 in the area between Zalingei (Western Darfur) and Kas (Southern Darfur), resulting in at least 182 fatalities and an unknown number of displacements in March alone. This was the highest number of casualties in a single month in the history of the Operation’s presence in Darfur. A Government of the Sudan delegation from Khartoum facilitated the signing of a peace agreement between the two communities in Zalingei and Kas on 24 and 27 March 2010. 30. During the reporting period, UNAMID was the target of a number of deliberate attacks. On 16 February 2010, seven personnel of the Pakistani formed police unit were injured — three of them critically — during an attack on its patrol to the El Sereif camp for internally displaced persons, 7 km west of Nyala. Two vehicles were seized by the attackers and later recovered. One suspect was arrested by Government of the Sudan officials. In response, UNAMID has taken measures to enhance security for police patrols, including the use of at least two protection vehicles with every patrol and the increased use of armoured personnel carriers during police patrols. 31. On 5 March 2010, a UNAMID patrol from Kas to Deribat (Southern Darfur) comprising 56 military contingent members, two military observers, four police advisers and a language assistant, on an assessment and verification mission following reports of fighting in the area, was detained by armed elements at Kawara village, 50 km north-east of Kas. The perpetrators took UNAMID equipment and personal belongings, including vehicles, weapons and communications equipment. UNAMID is conducting a full internal investigation into the incident and will conduct a joint investigation with the Government thereafter on aspects of mutual concern. UNAMID is actively working to retrieve the stolen weapons and communications equipment. 32. There were 26 restrictions on the Operation’s freedom of movement recorded during the reporting period. Approximately half of these were related to Government of the Sudan officials, while other incidents involved JEM and the Minni Minnawi, Abdul Shafi and Abdul Wahid factions of SLA, as well as Chadian armed opposition groups. In each case, the issue was brought to the attention of the concerned parties, but the restrictions on movement continue to hamper the mission’s activities throughout Darfur. 33. On 17 February 2010, a UNAMID national staff member was detained by the National Intelligence and Security Service at the market in Zalingei (Western Darfur) and held for four hours. 34. Carjacking incidents also continued to pose a threat to the international community, with 10 vehicles seized from staff of the United Nations and of nongovernmental organizations during the reporting period. Four vehicles belonging to the United Nations were subsequently recovered. 35. The risks posed to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel continue to be of grave concern. The number of kidnapping incidents has increased since last year, and, while most of the hostages have been freed, the length of the detentions has had a considerable effect on the well-being of the hostages and their families. This includes a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who was taken hostage in El Geneina (Western Darfur) and held for 148 days until 15 March 2010, and two staff members of the international nongovernmental organization Triangle Génération Humanitaire, who were seized in the Central African Republic in November 2009 and held in Western Darfur until 14 March 2010. 36. On 11 April 2010, four UNAMID police advisers went missing en route from their duty station to their residence in Nyala, Southern Darfur. As at 15 April, it appeared that the officers were being held by individuals claiming to represent a splinter rebel group in Darfur. On 26 April 2010, the four peacekeepers were released into the custody of UNAMID in Nyala, and they are expected to be repatriated to South Africa shortly. 37. During the reporting period, as part of its mandate to facilitate a secure environment in Darfur and contribute to the protection of civilians, the UNAMID military component conducted 325 routine patrols, 597 short-range patrols, 314 long-range patrols, 922 night patrols, 165 humanitarian escorts and 605 logistics/ administrative patrols, covering 4,877 villages and camps for internally displaced persons. 38. UNAMID police conducted a total of 13,878 patrols, including firewood, farm, confidence-building, monitoring and long-range patrols. The patrols included firewood and water protection, ensuring security in camps for internally displaced persons, expanding safe areas for livelihood activities, ensuring the free movement of civilians, and facilitating humanitarian assistance provided by other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. In particular, the number of long-range patrols was significantly increased, with a total of 41 patrols during the reporting period aimed at opening up additional land routes, assessing security conditions, establishing communication with communities and confidence-building. 39. The community policing initiative was further expanded during the reporting period. Of the 70 community policing centres planned, 47 are now operational, although only 14 have been physically constructed. In order to address crime in a proactive manner and encourage citizen participation in crime management, 1,516 new community policing volunteers have been selected, 560 of whom have been trained in camps and communities for internally displaced persons. Community policing volunteers provide a crucial liaison between UNAMID and Government of the Sudan police, especially in resolving crime-related issues. Among other functions, the volunteers also work to provide a secure environment for vulnerable groups, such as women and children, and serve as a neighbourhood watch in camps for internally displaced persons 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 40. In order to better ensure the security of internally displaced persons, UNAMID facilitated the formation of community safety committees in camps for the displaced throughout Darfur, contributing to the establishment of 11 such committees. 41. UNAMID conducted general mine assessments in 61 villages and verified a total of 3,087 km of roads. In collaboration with partners, education on explosive remnants of war/mine risks, including training for community leaders and school teachers on the threat of unexploded ordnance devices, was delivered to 7,508 individuals. A total of 457 pieces of unexploded ordnance were destroyed. Despite those efforts, accidents continued to occur during the reporting period, including seven unexploded ordnance-related accidents involving minors. With the theme “Together we protect our children against the risk of explosive remnants of war/unexploded ordnance”, a mine awareness day was organized on 7 April 2010. 42. On 1 April 2010, the Government of the Sudan concluded a discharge exercise for 900 former combatants in Nyala (Southern Darfur). This brought to 1,207 the total number of former combatants discharged since the unilateral initiative of the Government of the Sudan was launched in November 2009. Those discharged in Southern Darfur included 560 members of the signatories to the Declaration of Commitment to the Darfur Peace Agreement and 340 personnel associated with the Sudanese Armed Forces and its affiliates. UNAMID provided logistical support for the exercise, including security and transport. The ongoing exercise is part of the Government’s plan to discharge 5,000 former combatants affiliated with signatories to the Declaration. IV. Humanitarian situation 43. The reporting period saw a number of initiatives to define the scope for early recovery opportunities in Darfur. On 27 February 2010, a high-level retreat was held in Kigali upon the initiative of the UNAMID Joint Special Representative; it brought together the special envoys for the Sudan of the United Kingdom, France, the Russian Federation, the United States and the European Union and the representatives of the United Nations country team. They agreed to endorse a dual-track approach, combining the delivery of humanitarian relief assistance with activities conducive to early recovery in Darfur. Such an approach would entail capitalizing on the relative stability in some areas of Darfur in order to implement projects with a longer-term perspective, which would also contribute to the socioeconomic reintegration and reinsertion of ex-combatants and internally displaced persons, regardless of whether they decide to return home, resettle elsewhere or integrate into the communities in which they are currently based. 44. On 21 March 2010, an international donor conference on development and reconstruction in Darfur was held in Cairo under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The conference was attended by a large number of donors, including non-traditional donors and charitable organizations. A sum of $850 million was pledged. The conference also saw the adoption of a proposal, submitted by the State of Qatar, on a development bank for Darfur to be based in the Sudan. The projects to be financed through the pledges centred on the following sectors of top priority for the citizens of Darfur: water, agriculture, livestock and forestry, cement production, road infrastructure, agricultural processing, housing and physical planning, rural development, women’s development, capacity-building, health and education. 45. The protection of civilians continues to be one of the major priorities for UNAMID. In February 2010, the Operation adopted an internal strategy for civilian protection, aimed at harmonizing the actions of a wide variety of actors working in Darfur. Efforts are continuing to roll out the strategy to all components of UNAMID, including the military and police components, through the provision of consolidated and holistic training. 46. The humanitarian situation in the well-established camps for internally displaced persons remains stable. During the reporting period, food distributions carried out by the World Food Programme at some 300 points throughout Darfur regularly reached more than 95 per cent of the intended beneficiaries. Approximately 4.2 million vulnerable people continued to receive the direct food assistance of the Programme in this manner. 47. The continuous availability of a safe water supply was ensured for more than 1.2 million internally displaced persons through support for the operation and maintenance of more than 650 water systems, including the chlorination of the water supply. During the reporting period, a safe water supply was provided for 32,500 additional internally displaced persons and hosting communities through the construction of new water sources and was re-established for 26,000 through the rehabilitation of existing water sources. 48. Bilateral efforts are under way on the ground to provide assistance to internally displaced persons who are already returning voluntarily or who may decide to do so in the near future. In Southern Darfur, the Humanitarian Aid Commission registered 24,925 households returning to 53 villages, 2 of which — Donkey Dereisa and Muhajeria — have already undergone verification by the International Organization for Migration. Continuing its recovery efforts with bilateral partners, the Government constructed a number of “model return villages” across Darfur, located in Baba, Am Ksara, Muraya Gange (completed, with the presence of Government of the Sudan police), Fasha, Domaya, Am Kardose and Halof. The villages generally provide returnees with improved living quarters and access to services. 49. During the reporting period, humanitarian access was uneven and, in some cases, restricted owing to renewed fighting in eastern Jebel Marra and Jebel Moon, controlled by SLA-Abdul Wahid and JEM, respectively. Since 2007, humanitarian and UNAMID missions to those areas have been constrained by recalcitrant commanders on the ground. UNAMID supported the efforts of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the United Nations country team in maintaining liaison with Government actors and achieving a coordinated and collective response to the crisis, in particular to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations in the area. The main localities affected by the ongoing insecurity and in which humanitarian access has been hampered are Leiba, Fuguli, Kara, Kidingeer, Feina and Deribat, in Southern Darfur, and Fanga Suk, in Northern Darfur. Currently, no health services are available, and important gaps are likely to exist in water and sanitation services and livelihood/agricultural assistance. United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations have reinforced their preparedness, but, until access is granted, the assessment of needs and the delivery of aid will remain limited. 50. Upon reaching the JEM-controlled areas in Jebel Moon, Western Darfur, UNAMID organized and carried out field assessment missions to Silea and surrounding villages, where approximately 4,000 individuals sought shelter. In addition, it was agreed that JEM would facilitate humanitarian missions to the area under its control upon the receipt of a clear request. 51. Restricted access also extended to some areas of Southern Darfur in the vicinity of Kas, following fighting between the Rizeigat and the Misseriya. UNAMID and partners appealed to local leaders as well as State-level authorities to exercise their influence within the communities to stop the conflict and address the needs of communities in terms of humanitarian assistance and basic services. An assessment mission carried out by the humanitarian community has confirmed the presence of approximately 10,600 internally displaced persons in Kas. Those families are receiving necessary assistance. 52. Access to the urban areas outside the three Darfur State capitals has slightly improved as a result of the presence of UNAMID team sites and the intensification of short- and long-range patrolling activities in more remote areas. With the gradual increase in the deployment of UNAMID military and police personnel, patrolling activities have been diversified in terms of both scope and time frame, allowing the commencement of night patrols to more than 2,000 towns and settlements across Darfur. V. Rule of law, governance and human rights 53. During the reporting period, there was improvement in the working relations between UNAMID and the Government of the Sudan with respect to some rule-of- law issues, in particular regarding prisons. However, ongoing reports of human rights violations — especially against women — as well as reports of arbitrary arrest and detention in many parts of Darfur, continued. 54. Civilians continued to experience insecurity in the form of sexual and gender-based violence. In connection with clashes in Jebel Marra, UNAMID documented nine cases of such violence, including rape, attempted rape and physical assault perpetrated by unidentified armed men. The lack of access to the area suggests that the number may be higher. In two documented cases of rape, in which the victims were minors, Government of the Sudan police pursued and arrested the perpetrators. 55. In an effort to strengthen prevention and response with regard to sexual and gender-based violence, UNAMID, United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations initiated the development of standard operating procedures to ensure systematic coordination, the complementarity of initiatives and streamlined reporting, with a view to redefining operational strategies and filling the gap left in prevention and service provision efforts following the March 2009 expulsion of a number of international organizations working in the area. 56. During the reporting period, UNAMID documented 37 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, 14 of which were conducted by the National Intelligence and Security Service, 17 by Military Intelligence, 5 by the Sudanese Armed Forces and 2 by the Minni Minnawi faction of SLA. The powers of arrest and detention granted to the Service and to Military Intelligence continue to be an issue of concern, particularly regarding the enjoyment of the right to fair trial and due process. 57. In a positive development, a memorandum of understanding was signed on 21 February 2010 between Government of the Sudan prison authorities and UNAMID. The agreement paves the way for unrestricted access for UNAMID to all prisons in Darfur. If implemented, it will enable the mission to assist in strengthening the prison system in Darfur in accordance with international standards. 58. Regarding the capacity-building of Sudanese prison institutions, the United Nations Development Programme provided funding for the participation of selected Government of the Sudan prison directors in the second conference of the International Corrections and Prisons Association and the African Correctional Services Association, held from 8 to 10 April 2010 in Freetown. The Programme, UNAMID and Government prison authorities also co-organized a training course conducted in El Fasher from 14 to 18 March 2010, entitled “A human rights approach to prison management: basic prison duties”, for 31 prison staff from Northern Darfur, including 9 women. Similar training programmes were conducted in Zalingei and El Geneina, Western Darfur. 59. On 6 and 7 February 2010, UNAMID opened a legal aid help desk at the Nyala Central Prison in order to increase access to justice and basic human rights programmes for Darfurians. The launch also included a workshop on legal aid, which was attended by the United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, who visited Darfur from 3 to 9 February 2010. Sixty detainees (including 20 women) and 40 Government police officials (including 15 women) attended the workshop. 60. On 9 February 2010, UNAMID and the Advisory Council for Human Rights jointly organized the third Darfur Human Rights Forum in El Fasher, in order to engage in constructive dialogue with the Government of the Sudan on human rights concerns and to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights. The meeting was attended by representatives of local government authorities, the diplomatic community and United Nations agencies. The Wali of Northern Darfur subsequently issued a decree establishing a Northern Darfur human rights sub-forum. 61. With regard to capacity development, UNAMID Police conducted training programmes on criminal investigation for 50 Government of the Sudan police personnel, as well as training courses for 175 movement police personnel on sexual and gender-based violence, human rights and community policing. 62. Gender mainstreaming and awareness-raising workshops were held in all Darfur States with various stakeholders, including staff of the Northern Darfur Ministry of Social Welfare and Nyala Technical College and members of the Southern Darfur State committee on combating sexual and gender-based violence. From 10 February to 10 April 2010, a “training-the-trainers” course was conducted for 35 UNAMID gender officers in order to establish a pool of mobile instructors to provide capacity-building for gender officers, family and child protection police officers, and internally displaced persons. 63. During the reporting period, UNAMID entered into dialogue with the parties to the conflict with a view to securing commitments to action plans aimed at ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The leadership of the armed groups — SLA-Free Will, JEM-Peace Wing and SLA-Abu Gasim — agreed to enter into action plans with the United Nations and welcomed the technical guidance provided. The armed groups, however, raised concerns that children who were released might be re-recruited by rival factions, and urged that the support provided for the rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for former child soldiers be extended to other children affected by the armed conflict. Concerning the release of children, during the reporting period 574 children associated with JEM-Peace Wing, SLA-Peace Wing and the Movement of Popular Forces for Rights and Democracy were released and demobilized. This brought to 957 the total number of children associated with the armed groups released thus far, out of the 2,000 children registered for release. VI. UNAMID deployment 64. As at 15 April 2010, the personnel strength of the UNAMID military component stood at 17,157, representing 87 per cent of the authorized strength of 19,555. This included 16,558 troops, 333 staff officers, 61 liaison officers and 205 military observers. During the reporting period, the main body of two infantry battalions arrived in Darfur: the Tanzanian infantry battalion and the second Ethiopian infantry battalion completed their planned deployment, bringing the number of the Operation’s infantry battalions to 16, out of the mandated 18. In addition, the main body of the Sierra Leone sector reconnaissance company has deployed to the mission area. 65. The Ethiopian tactical helicopter unit was deployed in Nyala on 16 February 2010. The construction of the first taxiway and apron for helicopter parking has been completed, with the remaining construction work expected to be complete by the end of April 2010. 66. Of the 12 military units and the 6 formed police units yet to be deployed, 6 military units (2 medium transport units, 3 medium-utility helicopter units and 1 aerial reconnaissance unit) have yet to be pledged. It is planned that all pledged military and police units will be deployed this year. 67. The self-sustainment capability of units in Darfur continues to be a challenge. In a positive development, most of the Rwandese equipment is now at its intended location in Darfur or in transit (32 armoured personnel carriers have reached that destination, with an additional 28 having arrived at Port Sudan on 8 March 2010). 68. During the reporting period, the personnel strength of the UNAMID police component rose from 2,766 to 2,865; it currently stands at 76 per cent of the mandated strength of 3,772. Individual police officers are strategically deployed to 13 operational team sites (out of the 16 planned) and 47 operational community policing centres. The Operation’s absorption capacity, security and availability of accommodation have affected the deployment of individual police officers to the mission. 69. With regard to formed police units, 13 out of 19, or 68 per cent, have been deployed. The total formed police unit personnel strength stands at 1,812, or 68 per cent of the authorized strength of 2,660. With regard to the six formed police units yet to be deployed, Senegal, Uganda and Burkina Faso, supported by Friends of UNAMID (Canada, the Netherlands and the United States) have confirmed delivery of most of the donor equipment, and the units are expected to deploy in the coming months. Negotiations with Togo on a memorandum of understanding have been successfully concluded. Additionally, Friends of UNAMID (the United States and Germany) have confirmed support for a formed police unit from Mali, which will deploy along with the third Nigerian unit before the end of the year. 70. As at 15 April 2010, the number of UNAMID civilian personnel stood at 4,094 (1,123 international staff, 2,552 national staff and 419 United Nations Volunteers). This represented 74 per cent of the approved strength of 5,546. The mission continues to face difficulties in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified staff, owing to the harsh living conditions and the unpredictable security situation in Darfur. Since January 2008, 188 potential candidates have declined offers of appointment. 71. Between 1 February and 1 April 2010, the Government of the Sudan issued 145 new entry visas to UNAMID personnel. As at 1 April, 61 visa applications for UNAMID staff and Headquarters delegations were still pending. 72. As of April 2010, UNAMID had surveyed 21 team sites and identified 41 potential water-well drilling sites. Thus far, eight boreholes have been drilled. Commercial contracts for the drilling of 12 boreholes have been signed, and drilling will commence in April 2010. A contract for the surveying of 23 additional locations and the development of 46 additional boreholes has been awarded to a local contractor. The procurement process for drilling at all locations is ongoing. Through the quick-impact projects support mechanism, 23 water projects worth more than $330,000 have been approved and are being implemented. 73. The implementation of UNAMID quick-impact projects continued during the reporting period, with the approval of 172 new projects, in the areas of education (96), health (13), water (22), sanitation (11), community development (14), women’s empowerment (7), shelter (7) and conflict resolution (2). This brought to 434 the total number of UNAMID quick-impact projects for the period 2008-2010. Of these, 72 are physically and administratively completed, pending financial closure. The involvement of UNAMID military and police personnel in project identification, monitoring and assessment has significantly improved implementation, especially in areas that have a military or police presence and are difficult for civilian staff to gain access to. VII. Financial aspects 74. The General Assembly, by its resolution 63/258 B of 30 June 2009, appropriated the amount of $1,598.9 million for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. As at 31 March 2010, unpaid assessed contributions to the special account for the Operation amounted to $230.9 million. The total outstanding assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations as at that date amounted to $1,725.7 million. Reimbursements to troop- and police- contributing Governments for troop and formed police costs, and for contingent-owned equipment, have been made for the periods up to 28 February 2010 and 25 March 2010, respectively. VIII. Observations 75. There were some positive developments in Darfur during the reporting period, including progress in the negotiations in Doha, improvement in the relations between Chad and the Sudan and an elections process that took place largely without violence. In that context, the increasing deployment and operational capabilities of UNAMID, especially in remote areas, have helped to improve the safety and security of the Darfuri population, including through expanded patrolling, community policing and improved collaboration with Sudanese authorities. Nonetheless, there remain serious challenges to the achievement of a lasting peace in the region, including the ongoing reports of violence in many areas of Darfur, the lack of participation by key stakeholders in the political process and the failure of the electoral process to include large groups of Darfurians. 76. Ongoing reports of clashes between Government forces and SLA-Abdul Wahid are a source of serious concern, placing at risk the lives of civilians and causing significant displacements. I am also very concerned at the intercommunal violence in Darfur, which resulted in the highest number of casualties during any reporting period since the inception of UNAMID. 77. The continued denial of access to UNAMID by the various parties — particularly to areas in which clashes have reportedly occurred, such as Jebel Marra — significantly constrains the mission’s ability to implement its mandate to protect civilians in imminent danger. In addition, deliberate attacks on UNAMID and the threatening posture of some commanders on the ground often impede UNAMID patrols to vulnerable areas, particularly those under the control of non-signatories to the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement. 78. I strongly condemn the abduction of four UNAMID police advisers on 11 April 2010, and I urge all parties in Darfur to ensure the safety and security of all United Nations and associated personnel. The primary responsibility in this regard lies with the host Government, and UNAMID will continue to work with the Government of the Sudan to ensure the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel. 79. I am encouraged at the fact that the conduct of the elections in Darfur saw no major incidents of violence. The election of leaders by the people of Darfur is an important stage in the process of ending the marginalization of the region. However, it is important to recall that the census and constituency delimitation processes were strongly contested in Darfur. Substantial segments of the population, including those in rebel-held areas and many camps for internally displaced persons, were not included in the voter registration exercise, as a result of insecurity, boycotts and alleged flaws in the process. It therefore remains vital that the Government of the Sudan find mechanisms for including the views of these people in national decision-making processes, including through the ongoing discussions aimed at a comprehensive peace agreement. 80. In that regard, I am encouraged that the reporting period saw progress in the normalization of Chad-Sudan relations, which in turn facilitated progress in the negotiations under way in Doha. The participation of the Presidents of the Sudan, Chad and Eritrea and the Emir of Qatar at the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and JEM, held in February in Doha, was an important indicator of the fact that high-level political engagement has been and will continue to be required if progress is to continue. Much work remains to be done, however, to ensure that these agreements are implemented and lead to a final and comprehensive peace agreement, and to ensure that the peace process is inclusive and represents the interests of the people of Darfur. 81. In that connection, I have taken note of the pledge of the ruling National Congress Party that, if it wins the April elections, it will continue the negotiations in Doha between the armed movements and the Government of the Sudan. I also stress that, in order to be sustainable and effective, the final peace agreement for the resolution of the Darfur conflict must be comprehensive and inclusive of all Darfurian stakeholders, including civil society. If the next round of negotiations is to be conclusive, all sides must demonstrate significant flexibility and political vision. 82. The continued refusal by Abdul Wahid to join the Doha process and negotiate with the Government of the Sudan, coupled with his movement’s refusal to allow UNAMID and humanitarian agencies to gain access to areas under its control, constitute serious impediments to the peace process in Darfur. Once again, I call on Abdul Wahid to engage in negotiations under the auspices of the Joint Chief Mediator and to facilitate the efforts of the international community to end the suffering of the Darfurian populations. In that regard, I welcome the latest efforts of both Joint Chief Mediator Djibrill Bassolé and Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari in trying to convince Abdul Wahid to change his attitude, adopt a positive posture and join the peace process in the interest of his people, and I urge those Member States with influence over him to encourage him to join the talks in Doha. 83. I welcome the steps taken by the Governments of the Sudan and Chad to restore diplomatic relations and the deployment of the joint border monitoring force, which could bring about a significant improvement in the security situation in the west and north-west of Darfur. Indeed, those positive developments account largely for the latest progress made in the peace process, and I wish to commend the role being played by Chad in that regard. Meanwhile, I urge the Government of the Sudan, in collaboration with the Chadian authorities, to take appropriate steps to address the insecurity created by the redeployment of Chadian armed opposition groups away from the border areas. 84. The proliferation of firearms among communities in Darfur remains a serious issue. If not addressed, it will continue to pose a threat to the stability of Darfur. Localized conflicts, such as the dispute between the Misseriya and Nawaiba during the reporting period, will not be easily contained and will result in an unnecessary loss of life and a displacement of civilian populations. It is disheartening to note that, during the month of March 2010 alone, 182 civilians were killed as a result of such clashes. In this regard, the authority of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms should be strengthened. For its part, UNAMID has, since its inception, been working closely with local institutions to support their efforts to maintain peaceful coexistence among communities. Those efforts are being strengthened through greater cooperation among local traditional leaders, local State authorities, the affected communities and UNAMID. 85. I am encouraged by the progress that UNAMID has made towards full deployment in Darfur. At the same time, continuing shortfalls in terms of the self-sustainment of military and formed police units remain a challenge to the operational capability of the mission. I thank troop- and police-contributing countries for their commitment to UNAMID, and I urge all contributing countries to ensure that the necessary arrangements are made for the deployment of the equipment and capabilities required by the Mission. 86. I welcome the agreements made by the leadership of SLA-Free Will, JEM-Peace Wing and SLA-Abu Gasim to enter into action plans to cease recruitment and release to the United Nations all children associated with their groups. At the same time, I call upon other armed groups and Government forces to engage with UNAMID in its efforts to develop, as soon as possible, time-bound action plans in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005). 87. The humanitarian operation in Darfur has been successful in stabilizing the situation the situation in the food security, health, nutrition and water sectors. The humanitarian operation needs to continue, as the overall situation remains fragile, and I call on donors to continue their generous contributions to humanitarian aid. At the same time, there is a need to work with communities and Sudanese authorities to find durable solutions, and not only for the displaced populations. Efforts need to be intensified to help the growing urban centres in Darfur to manage future challenges in terms of the environment and basic services. I welcome the commitment of donors, demonstrated during the conference held in Cairo on 21 March 2010, to invest in early recovery programming in Darfur, alongside the continuing humanitarian assistance, in support of the lead role played by the Government of the Sudan in this matter. 88. While continued international efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur will be indispensable, the ultimate responsibility for the well-being, safety and security of the people of Darfur rests with the Government of the Sudan. It will be critical that Sudanese authorities at the national and local levels continue to invest in health, education, water, sanitation and other basic infrastructure throughout Darfur. If the April 2010 elections are to be a meaningful part of the democratic transformation of the Sudan, those elected to office must genuinely represent their constituencies in Darfur. At the same time, it will be important that the Government of the Sudan find a way to take into account the voices of those who did not have an opportunity to participate in the elections. Outstanding issues, such as access to land, compensation and reconciliation, must be resolved through inclusive decision-making processes. UNAMID stands ready to facilitate such efforts, working closely with Government counterparts and international partners.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2010/213 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2010/213 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 10-32424 \* MERGEFORMAT 16 \* MERGEFORMAT 15 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 10-32424 United Nations S/2010/213 Security Council Distr.: General 28 April 2010 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 10-32424 (E) 030510 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *1032424*