News - Ban Ki-moon visits Libya to discuss Darfur Crisis
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Libya this week in the final leg of his three country trip of Africa to address the crisis in Darfur. Following a meeting with the Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi, the Secretary General released a statement in Tripoli setting out a series of measures required to address the conflict that has engulfed Darfur since 2003, killing over 200,000 people and driving an additional 2.2 million from their homes.
Ban Ki-Moon with Libyan leader Muamar Gadafi in Sirte, Libya
CREDIT=UN Photo/Evan Schneider
UNAMID, a new 26,000 strong peacekeeping force made up of UN and African Union troops is to be part of a coordinated effort between the two institutions in confronting the situation in Darfur. On 27 October, a peace conference will be hosted in Libya between the Sudanese Government and Darfur’s rebel groups, and will be led by UN-AU special envoys Jan Eliason and Salim Ahmed Salim.
Mr Ban stated that the envoys “will continue to work in close coordination with the countries of the region and ensure that the concerns of civil society, representatives of internally displaced persons, women's groups and tribal leaders are channelled into the negotiation process,”.
Mr. Ban and AU Chairman Alpha Oumar Konaré will also jointly chair a high-level meeting on the issue in New York on 21 September, while Chad is going to hold a preparatory meeting with Darfur’s rebel movements later this month.
Ban Ki-moon hopes that Libya will use its experience in reprising its role as a regional mediator
