Chad-Sudan Border Force

Le Monde reported last week that Chad and Sudan have agreed to create a joint border force which will deploy along the two countries' borders by February 20th.

Apparently the two countries have agreed to staff border posts and secure their borders. The initial deployment, scheduled for February 15-20, will coincide with a meeting of the "mixed security and military commission."

The article adds that observation posts will be created in Abeche on the Chadian side and in El-Geneina in Darfur. The two countries have reportedly also agreed to take steps to cease presence in each other's territory and to stop supporting armed groups in these border regions.

This in interesting because it amounts to a public recognition, by both countries, that they've been supporting rebel groups in the other country. On the other hand, it also strikes me as mostly symbolic. After all, how much is one "joint" border post really going to help unless of course these armed groups suddenly decide that they want to use "official" border crossings?

Surprise Change in Leadership for UN-AU Darfur Force

There's more news from the UN today,this time from Darfur where, as you know, the UN and AU are struggling to fully deploy UNAMID.

While the replacement of the UNAMID force commander, Nigerian General Martin Agwai (for whom a farewell ceremony was held today in El Fasher) was expected, as was his replacement with a Rwandan General, another change was not.

Indeed, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, former Congolese Foreign Minister Rodolphe Adada resigned today, effective August 31st.

This is not to say the change is not welcome because it is. As the article says,

Western diplomats said Adada's job was a difficult one, since Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, an indicted war crimes suspect over Darfur, created bureaucratic obstacles that have slowed UNAMID's deployment.

The diplomats said there was a broad consensus that Adada did not try hard enough to speed up UNAMID deployment. The U.N. secretariat, they said, was also dissatisfied with his performance, but since the appointment was made jointly by both the U.N. and the AU it was not possible to get rid of him.

"He hasn't been the most effective head of a mission," a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity. "We were unhappy with him for a long time but the AU protected him."

And you'll note that while the Secretary-General's statement on the matter couldn't have been different, as MK pointed out to me earlier today, it fits with the beefs listed in the Norwegian memo.

But U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Adada.

In his reply to Adada's letter of resignation, quoted in the online version of Sudan Tribune newspaper, Ban said he "led UNAMID with distinction during its most challenging initial deployment phase and in an environment of unprecedented difficulty."

So, another thing to keep an eye on: is the UN going to start firing field leaders who perform badly or even not well enough? What constitutes good leadership in these types of missions and who should measure that performance? At what point should say, the Security Council, the Secretary-General or a combination of others be able to fire mission leaders?