The joint AU-UN Chief mediator in Darfur returns to Sudan

SUNA - The AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole will return to Khartoum on Thursday after a tour that took him to Egypt and Burkina Faso. He is due to call on a number of federal officials before flying to Al Fashir, his headquarters. It is to be noted that the Chief Mediator has, during his visit to Cairo, met with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Ghaith and held consultations on means to push forwards the peace process in Darfur.

The Egyptian diplomat has pointed out that his country was keen to invite Bassole to visit Cairo immediately after he was appointed mediator a matter that reflects Cairo keenness to relay its view and evaluation of the situation in Darfur and that the Egyptian leadership wanted to exchange views with the joint mediator on means of facilitating the negotiations between the government of the Sudan and the Darfur rebel movements.

The Joint mediator also held a round of discussion with the Secretary General of the Arab league Amru Mussa on the developments in Darfur and the political efforts being exerted to find a solution for the question. Bassole had pointed out following the meetings to the possibility of reaching a peaceful settlement to the Darfur question. He said his meeting with Musa was the second he took over the job, explaining that there were agreement on the importance of continuing those contacts on the crisis between the Arab league, the United Nations and the African union. He referred to the fact that the league has a special envoy to Darfur.