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A United Nations Security Council delegation concluded a five-country visit to Africa to witness first-hand the crisis engulfing Somalia, Sudan's Darfur region and neighboring Chad and to help with efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Côte d'Ivoire.

UN Security Council

Photo: John Sawers (center in hat), Permanent Representative to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, engaged in a conversation with Osman Mohammad Yousif Kibir, Wali of North Darfur, in El Fasher, Sudan. © UN Photo/Tim McKulka

Somalia

During their first stop in Africa, members of the delegation met with Somali leaders in Djibouti, where talks are being held between representatives of the government and the opposition in the neighboring strife-torn nation under the auspices of the United Nations.

The team was briefed by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, on the talks that he is chairing between the transitional federal government and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia.

The Council also met with Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and members of his cabinet.

Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government since 1991, has witnessed deadly fighting in recent months, including in and around the capital, Mogadishu, which has seen an exodus of hundreds of thousands of civilian residents in the past year.

(See "Somali parties reach peace deal after UN-led talks" for more about the peace deal.)

Sudan

During a three-day visit to Sudan, the delegation met with Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to discuss the country's north-south peace process, the situations in Abyei and Darfur, as well as the African nation's non-cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), during a meeting in the capital, Khartoum.

On the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government and the former southern rebels, President al Bashir informed the Council delegation that an agreement was reached between his side and the government of South Sudan to resolve the dispute over Abyei - a town which lies in an oil-rich area near the boundary between north and south Sudan.

President al Bashir also welcomed a greater role for the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in its area of operation, including the region around Abyei.

Regarding the Darfur peace process, the delegation said that President al Bashir welcomed the proposed creation of the position of chief mediator as outlined in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's latest report on war-torn Sudanese region.

In addition, Council members said they regretted that the president continues to reject any possibility of Sudan cooperating with the ICC, contrary to its obligations under Security Council resolution 1593.

Two men, both accused of committing war crimes, have yet to be apprehended despite arrest warrants issued last April. They are: Ahmad Harun, former Sudanese Minister of State for the Interior and now the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ali Kushayb, a leader of a pro-Government Janjaweed militia.

Photo: James Wani Igga, Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly addresses the press in Juba, Sudan after a meeting between Salba Kiir Mayardit (fourth from left), President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and first Vice-President of the Sudan, as the representatives of GoSS and the members of the Security Council listen in. © UN Photo/Tim McKulka

Chad

The Council delegation also visited Abeche, in eastern Chad, where they met with the Force Commander of the European Forces and with Victor Angelo, head of the UN mission in Chad and Central African Republic (MINURCAT), who briefed the Council on their respective operations.

From there, the Council team flew to Doz Baide, near the Sudanese border, and met with the governor of the region before visiting a camp for refugees from Darfur. Elders at that camp identified security as their main problem.

The Council mission also visited a camp for Chadians displaced by fighting in the region, and received briefings from UN and other humanitarian workers, who also cited security concerns and restrictions on their movement.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The delegation visited the Congolese capital of Kinshasa for discussions with the country's leadership and civil society and the UN peacekeeping mission, known as MONUC.

The Council met with President Joseph Kabila to discuss the reform of the security and judicial sectors, the disarmament and national reconciliation processes, and the implementation of the Goma Agreement between the government and various armed groups.

They visited a UN-run camp for internally displaced persons in the Northeastern town of Goma and held discussions with the people living there, as well as with UN humanitarian staff working in the camp.

They also met with the Mixed Commission on the follow up mechanism to the Goma Agreement and with representatives of female victims of sexual violence.

Côte d'Ivoire

The delegation's 10-day mission concluded in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where the ongoing peace process in the West African nation was discussed.

The delegation, led by Ambassador Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, was briefed by Choi Yong Jin, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, and other senior officials of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (UNOCI).

They also held meetings with the team in charge of the logistical preparations for the planned November presidential election and with the Special Representative of the Facilitator of the Ivorian peace process.