By NNN-KUNA,
Khartoum : Joint mediator of the UN and African Union (AU) to Darfur Djibril Yipene Bassole arrived here Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials on the situations in the troubled province, and Khartoum’s efforts to enforce peace and stability in the western province.
Minister of state at the Sudanese foreign ministry Ali Karti told reporters Bassole’s two-day visit, the first since assuming his mediator’s post, was to get acquainted with the situation in general in Darfur.
Karti said the selection of Bassole, of Burkina Faso, was “excellent” because he already have background on the situations in Africa and that he has good relations with the international community.
Bassole, 51, will be based in Al-Fasher, the regional capital of northern Darfur. UN representative Jan Elliasson and AU’s Salem Ahmad Salem will be available in case of need.
Bassole was the foreign minister of Burkina Faso since 2000 until 2007.