United Nations Radio

The head of UN peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, says that a census in Sudan launched on Monday has gone "relatively well in many areas".

Speaking to reporters after a Security Council meeting late on Thursday, he added that still there are major challenges in conducting a census in the country where violence and ethnic tensions continue in many regions.

"There are, as one would expect, serious difficulties in Darfur, there are camps where the IDP population doesn't want to be part of this effort, so long as they cannot come back to their villages. You have heard of demonstrations also in Amdurman for the same reasons. Of course, it is linked to all the big issues of Sudan, but it is moving ahead."

The UN peacekeeping chief said the census will have major implications for the future elections in Sudan, which are scheduled for next July. Mr. Guehenno called for more international support to consolidate the progress that has been achieved. He welcomed the upcoming meeting of the Sudan Donor Consortium, which will take place in early May in Oslo. The Consortium includes representatives from Sudan and the international community.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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