Arab League chief, AU head to visit Darfur Thursday
KHARTOUM, May 30, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — It was reported yesterday that Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa and the chairman of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, will arrive in the country next Thursday 2 June.
The Sudanese newspaper Al-Mashaheer said that Musa and Konare, who will be leading a joint delegation from the Arab League and the African Union, will go on a tour to inspect the troubled situation in Darfur. They will start with two days in Darfur to acquaint themselves with the latest developments particularly the humanitarian situation.
The two officials will then go to Khartoum where they will meet President Omar al-Bashir and other government officials with whom they will discuss the situation in Darfur in light of efforts being exerted by the two organizations in order to settle the conflict peacefully as soon as possible.
It is worth mentioning that Darfur has been witnessing an armed conflict since February 2003 pitting the Sudanese government against the Darfur rebels the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement.
This has lead to the death of more than 170,000 people, the displacement of 1.5 million others and has sent 200,000 refugees to neighbouring Chad.
The warring parties in Darfur are expected to resume negotiations next month under the auspices of the African Union in the Nigerian capital Abuja to search for a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.