U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration will depart the United States on Monday, December 6, en route Sudan, where he will support on-going international efforts to ensure full and timely implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The Special Envoy will travel to Khartoum, Darfur, and Juba. In Khartoum and Juba, he will meet with senior Sudanese officials to urge them to keep preparations for the January 2011 referendum on self-determination for Southern Sudan on track, agree on a way forward on Abyei, and move ahead on planning for the post-referendum period.

During his trip, Special Envoy Gration will spend three days in Darfur, with planned visits to El Fashir and Nyala. There, he will meet with UNAMID officials and other international partners to discuss the security and humanitarian situation.

Finally, the Special Envoy will visit Doha, Qatar, to discuss the way ahead on Darfur with United Nations, African Union, and Qatari officials facilitating ongoing peace talks with the parties to the Darfur conflict.