PSC/PR/COMM(CXCVIII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUE OF THE 198TH MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 198th meeting held on 21 July 2009, reviewed the situation in Darfur and adopted the following decision: Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Darfur [PSC/PR/2(CXCVIII)], as well as the statements made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, the Joint AU/UN Special Representative for UNAMID and the Government of the Sudan; 2. Recalls its previous decisions and communiqués on the situation in Darfur; 3. Notes that the security situation on the ground has generally been calm over the past few months. Nevertheless, Council expresses concern at the occasional armed clashes that have taken place between various armed parties, including the incidents that took place in Muhajirya and around Karnoi and Um Buru, in January and May 2009 respectively, inter-tribal fighting among Arab communities, kidnapping of humanitarian workers and the prevailing insecurity in and around the IDP camps, as well as tensions along the Chad-Sudan border; 4. Notes the progress made in the deployment of UNAMID, particularly the military component, which has now reached 69% of the authorized strength of 19,555 military personnel, and the aim of UNAMID to reach 97% deployment by the end of the year. Council commends the personnel and leadership of the Mission for their dedication and contribution to the promotion of lasting peace and reconciliation in Darfur. In particular, Council pays tribute to the outgoing UNAMID Force Commander, General Martin Luther Agwai (Nigeria), and welcomes the appointment of Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba from Rwanda as the new Force Commander as of 1st September 2009; 5. Welcomes the existing cooperation between UNAMID and the Government of the Sudan. In this respect, Council notes the regular consultative meetings of the Tripartite Coordination Committee comprising the Government of the Sudan, the AU and the United Nations, which has been an effective mechanism in addressing all matters relating to the deployment and operations of UNAMID. Council welcomes the agreed outcome of the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee, which took place in Khartoum on 12 July 2009; 6. Notes that, in spite of the progress made, UNAMID still faces critical gaps in the area of aviation and force enablers. In this respect, Council reiterates its call on all the countries having the necessary capabilities to provide UNAMID with the required military enablers, to enhance the capacity of the Mission, and allow it to carry out its mandate more effectively. Council reiterates its appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for agreeing to provide five tactical helicopters, and looks forward to their early deployment to the Mission area; 7. Expresses concern at the lack of progress in the talks between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the impasse in the implementation of the Agreement of Goodwill and Confidence Building for the Settlement of the Conflict in Darfur signed between the two parties in Doha, Qatar, on 17 February 2009.