Darfur itself is the size of France. Within the region there are a large number of disparate parties and factions, now estimated to number more than twenty. The number is constantly changing and in addition to the larger parties there are an unknown number of criminal groups.
The Mission's operational area:
Darfur, Sudan (part of UNAMID headquarters in Khartoum, Logistics base in El Obeid), Ethiopia (African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa) and Uganda (UN's logistics base in Entebbe).
UNAMID's precursor AMIS commenced the operation in 2004. In the following year a decision was taken to increase the size of the force.
Since then, the peace has been disrupted by virtually all the parties to the conflict. On 5 May 2006, following seven rounds of negotiations, the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed but only by two of the parties, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement Minawi faction. Despite the fact that a large number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Egypt and Canada stood as guarantors for the DPA, the JEM (Justice and Equality Movement) and the Sudan Liberation Movement /Army (Wahid) declined to sign the agreement.
The Mission's mandate is based on UN Resolution 1769, adopted by the Security Council on 31 July 2007.
Summary of the mandate
In accordance with Security Council Resolution 1769, UNAMID has the following mandate to act under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations:
- To protect its UN/AU personnel, facilities, installations and equipment from attack and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its own personnel and humanitarian workers.
- To support early and effective implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, prevent the disruption of its implementation and armed attacks, and protect civilians with refugee status, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Sudan.
- To work towards a security situation which allows the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes in the interests of stabilising the whole of Darfur.