KIGALI - Kigali will today host a high level retreat by special envoys to Sudan aimed at developing a common understanding on the way forward as regards facilitating the restoration of peace in Sudan, especially the conflict-torn region of Darfur.

On arrival at Kigali international airport yesterday, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union - United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), told The New Times that he was delighted Rwanda had accepted the request to host it.

Professor Gambari was accompanied by the UNAMID force commander – Rwanda’s Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba.

At the "special retreat” scheduled for Kigali Serena Hotel, the special envoys of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – UK, France, Russia, China and the US, in addition to the European Union (EU), will participate.

"It is important to come together, as people with operational responsibility for Darfur through UNAMID, to brainstorm with the special envoys of the permanent members of the Security Council to see the way forward and to try to get a common understanding on where we are and where we need to go in terms of establishing peace and security in Darfur,” Gambari said.

The envoy stressed that Rwanda was chosen as the venue for the retreat because of three specific reasons.

"Rwanda is the second largest troop contributor to UNAMID. The force commander of the entire operation is a Rwandan general and we feel there is a third reason which is – your experience after the crisis, for reconciliation, we think is also something that we can learn from, all of us,” Gambari noted.

Pointing to today’s retreat, the UNAMID Force Commander underscored the need for a harmonized approach to the Sudan’s conflicts.

"It is very important that we all have a harmonized approach to the issues of the Sudan. It is more of having a coordinated effort and putting things in the right perspective. I am certainly sure that it’s the right way forward,” Gen. Nyamvumba said.

Nyamvumba reiterated that as one of the biggest troop contributors, Rwanda has been very supportive of all the peace efforts in Darfur.

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