The new head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur known as UNAMID arrived yesterday in Khartoum to assume his duties.
Ibrahim Gambari will meet over the next two weeks with a number of leaders and groups, including the President Omar Al-Bashir and his cabinet, several ambassadors and foreign government officials, Darfur authorities, and United Nations Mission in Sudan and UNAMID leadership and staff, the mission said in a press release.Mr. Gambari, who is also UN Joint Special Representative, will attend the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, where he will meet with AU Chairperson Jean Ping, as well as high-level officials of the organization’s member countries.
Mr. Gambari told reporters that he looks forward very much to working with all the stakeholders in the Sudan.
A Nigerian national, Mr. Gambari brings to the table extensive diplomatic skills, UN experience and knowledge of Africa.
He served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, chaired the UN’s Special Committee against Apartheid, headed the UN Mission in Angola and advised the UN Secretary-General on Iraq and Myanmar.