Sudan Denied AU Chair, Still Obstructing on Darfur

AFRICA ACTION PRESS RELEASE

Sudan Denied AU Chair But Still Obstructing Action on Darfur

Despite Recent Diplomatic Efforts, No Progress on Deploying Authorized UN Peacekeeping Force to Protect Darfur

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 (Washington, DC) – Africa Action welcomed this week’s decision by the African Union (AU) to deny the position of Chair of that continent-wide body to the Sudanese government, choosing instead to confirm the Ghanaian President as AU Chair for the coming year. But Africa Action warned that Khartoum continues to obstruct the international response to the growing crisis in Darfur, and that its ongoing attacks against civilians and its opposition to a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force cannot be tolerated.

Nii Akuetteh, Executive Director of Africa Action, said today, “The AU’s decision to deny the position of Chair to Sudan shows the depth of concern within that body about Khartoum’s role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur. This powerful political statement must now be followed by new action from the international community to reinforce the AU’s mission in Darfur with a UN peacekeeping force that can stop the violence and protect civilians.”

Amid a renewed focus on the need for a political process to resolve the crisis in Darfur, Africa Action today underscored the immediate need for a robust UN peacekeeping force that can protect civilians and humanitarian operations in Darfur, and that can establish stable conditions conducive to successful political negotiations.

Despite recent diplomatic initiatives from the U.S. and from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, however, Africa Action emphasized that no progress has been made in overcoming Sudan’s opposition to a UN peacekeeping mission for Darfur. As the need for such a force grows with the escalating violence on the ground, Africa Action decried the failure of the international community to break the deadlock on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1706, passed last August, authorizing a UN peacekeeping mission for Darfur.

Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at Africa Action, said today, “The U.S. and other members of the Security Council must step up their efforts to deploy a UN force to Darfur. There is an urgent need for new diplomatic engagement from Sudan’s allies, especially China, to leverage Khartoum’s cooperation. There is also a range of punitive measures that must be considered by the Security Council to sanction Sudan for its role in the ongoing genocide and to press Khartoum to allow a UN peacekeeping force into Darfur.”

Marie Clarke Brill, Director of Public Education & Mobilization at Africa Action, said today, “Darfur remains a top foreign policy concern for millions of Americans, who continue to urge greater U.S. engagement to stop the genocide. Last week’s mention of Darfur by President Bush in his State of the Union address was roundly rejected as insufficient and was no substitute for a real U.S. strategy to protect the people of Darfur. The situation is getting worse, and the U.S. must mount a new and urgent effort to achieve a UN peacekeeping force to protect civilians in the region now.”

Africa Action’s report “Leveraging New International Action on Darfur” lays out next steps for the international community on this crisis, and looks at how the U.S., China and other powers can use their influence to persuade Khartoum to allow the necessary peacekeeping force into Darfur. This report is available at: http://www.africaaction.org/resources/page.php?op=read&documentid=2235&type=6&issues=1024

For more information and analysis on the Darfur crisis, see http://www.africaaction.org/darfur

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