Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern arrived in Khartoum last night for a three-day visit to Sudan and Chad ahead of the deployment of Irish troops as part of an EU mission to protect Darfuri refugees and displaced locals in eastern Chad.
The Minister is due to hold talks with the Sudanese government in Khartoum today where he will announce a funding package for the Darfur peace process. Ireland is to donate €500,000 to the UN trust fund established to support peace talks between the Sudanese government and various Darfuri rebel groups. After a preliminary round of discussions, the talks are due to resume in Libya early next month.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Ahern said the peace process was "absolutely vital" for the prospects of securing lasting peace and security in the region.
"I intend to raise the need for all parties to the conflict to commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities, full participation in the current peace talks and support for successful deployment of Unamid [ the joint UN/African Union mission to Darfur]," he added.
Mr Ahern will travel on to neighbouring Chad where he will meet government officials in the capital, N'Djamena, tomorrow. He will also be briefed by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations working in the country.
On Friday he will travel to Chad's volatile eastern region to visit camps accommodating those displaced by local unrest.
The camps are located in the area which will be patrolled by the EU force. The Irish troops' mission, which is subject to Dáil approval, will form part of an EU military operation due for deployment to the region under the operational command of Lieut Gen Pat Nash of the Defence Forces.
"I am hopeful that this mission, in which Ireland will play an important role, will bring security and enable political progress to be made in that troubled region," Mr Ahern said.