Sudan can’t lead Africa in 2007 if Darfur not settled – US official

Jan 24, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan should not take the chairmanship of the African Union in 2007 unless it ends the bloodshed in Darfur, US President George W. Bush’s top adviser for Africa said Tuesday.

African leaders on Tuesday named Congo to head the 53-nation body but agreed that Sudan would take over in 2007 as they wrapped up a two-day summit in Khartoum that was overshadowed by disagreement over the AU leadership.

“We hope to see an improved situation in Darfur — that there will be a peace agreement — and this decision today could help create momentum for that to occur,” US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer told journalists on the sidelines of a AU summit here.

“If they continue like they are now, in 2007, I doubt very seriously that Sudan can be president of the AU,” she added.

“We are hoping to see improvement and that would give the opportunity for Sudan to lead the AU.”

Sudan’s candidacy to head the continental body had failed to win unanimous support because of the conflict in Darfur, where the AU is mediating peace talks and has deployed a 7,000-strong peacekeeping force.

Frazer described the AU decision to name Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguessou to take over the presidency as “a very good thing for the AU”.

During a meeting with the new chairman, the US official said she “affirmed American support for the AU.”

Human rights groups had warned that giving Sudan the AU chair would be tantamount to rewarding the regime of President Omar al-Beshir, accused by the United States of genocide in Darfur, and would damage the AU’s credibility.

(ST)