AU Seeks Enforcement of Darfur Ceasefire

(PANA)--The African Union’s (AU) top security organ, the Peace and Security Council (PSC), welcomed Sudanese President’s unilateral cease fire in Darfur and asked a top mediator there to ensure effective implementation of the ceasefire.

The PSC, holding its 157th session at the AU headquarters on Monday, met with the joint chief mediator for the Darfur conflict, Djibrill Bassole, representing the AU and the United Nations, to discuss the security situation in Darfur. ‘The council expressed support to the AU-UN chief mediator and urged all Sudanese parties to fully cooperate with him in order to facilitate the early resumption of the political dialogue and the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement,’ AU said.

Sudanese parties have been gearing for crucial talks on a model political agreement to bring to an end the conflict in Darfur, which has been simmering since 2003, building on an earlier peace pact, signed in Abuja, Nigeria, but which has been snubbed by rebels. Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir declared the unilateral ceasefire in Darfur to encourage the militia groups fighting ground battles against the government forces and often targeting UN-AU peacekeepers, to follow suit and give the talks a chance.

Darfur rebels have been lukewarm over the proposed peace talks with the government. Sudanese government officials insist they are ready to dialogue on a model solution to the crisis in Darfur but its olive branch to the rebels have often met hostility. ‘In particular, the council welcomed the decision by President Bashir for a unilateral ceasefire and disarmament of armed militias in Darfur and looks forward to an early and effective implementation of this decision,’ a statement issued after the meeting said. ‘The council urged all parties to the conflict to respond positively to the call made by President Bashir for an immediate cessation of all forms of hostilities,’ it added.

The government denies any direct involvement in the aerial bombardments and the raids on camps housing the internally displaced people but United Nations aid agencies said the government has been arming various militia groups to help fight a proxy war. At its meeting, the AU demanded that the Sudanese government and the UN must take full cognisance of the situation in Darfur and to fully involve the African Union Commission, which should be briefed on any progress. The Peace Council, which includes some 15 African states, elected by the AU heads of state and government assembly to oversee continental security initiatives, also welcomed the outcome of peace talks between the Sudanese parties, convened by Qatar.

The AU peace panel particularly called for an end to the culture of impunity in Darfur and asked the joint chief mediator to strive for an end to this phenomenon. The team of experts on the panel also asked the mediator to work towards reconciliation and healing. The PSC noted that a political solution to the Darfur crisis building on the aspects contained in the Abuja peace accord should be negotiated amongst the warring parties.

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