Konare on Darfur

PANA—African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare has appealed for a constructive participation of representatives of the people of Sudan’s western Darfur region in the peace talks opening Saturday in Sirte, Libya.

In a statement issued here on the eve of the talks, Konare urged all the Sudanese parties involved in the four-year Darfur crisis “to demonstrate the necessary spirit of compromise and extend full cooperation to the AU and the United Nations.”

AU and UN Special Envoys, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson respectively, will steer the talks with the aim of reaching a durable settlement of the conflict in Darfur, home to some six million people.

At the centre of the crisis, which has claimed an estimated 200,000 lives and displaced over 2 million, is the demand by the Darfurians for greater autonomy and a bigger share of national wealth, including oil which has not been exploited yet.

Konare has emphasized the talks are a unique opportunity the parties must seize to bring about lasting peace and reconciliation in Darfur.

Warning that the AU, working with the UN Security Council, was determined to take appropriate action against spoilers of the talks, Konare said all parties must refrain from any act of violence on the ground.

Representatives of Darfurian parties and factions at the talks should demonstrate the spirit of compromise and extend full cooperation to the AU and the UN, sponsors of the peace negotiations, Konare added.

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