AU regrets deadline missing by Darfur rebels

June 1, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union expressed “deep regret” on Thursday after two Darfur rebel factions missed an AU deadline to sign a peace deal aimed at ending the three-year-old conflict in Sudan’s remote west.

The AU has raised the specter of U.N. sanctions against the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction led by Abdel Wahed Mohammed al-Nur and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) if they did not sign before May 31.

In a statement, AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare noted “with deep regret” that last-minute efforts to get the two factions to sign the deal had failed.

It said the AU’s Peace and Security Council will now decide what, if any, punitive measures are to be taken against the groups.

The AU council will meet in the coming days although no date has been set. Many AU deadlines have been set and missed without repercussions over the past two years of negotiations on Darfur.

Nur’s SLA faction and JEM have said they want more political posts, better compensation for the victims of the conflict and a say in disarming the government-armed Arab militia blamed for much of the violence in Darfur.

Only one SLA faction headed by Minni Arcua Minnawi signed the AU-mediated May 5 deal with the government. Minnawi told Reuters the others needed to sign up to address their concerns from within rather than be outside in the cold.

“If they join the agreement they can develop things but whenever they are outside they cannot develop the document,” he told Reuters.

But he said no changes could be made to the current deal.

Nur, the other SLA faction leader, is in the Kenyan capital Nairobi but his group said he would not sign unless changes or additions were made to the text, conditions which the AU and Sudan’s government reject.

JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim said the deal was unacceptable.

“We are calling on the United Nations and international mediators to be patient, not to hurry up, not to force an unacceptable peace on people of Darfur,” he said on Wednesday.

Minnawi’s rebel faction has the most firepower in Darfur, but Nur is from the region’s largest Fur tribe. Analysts say he may cause a split along ethnic lines if he does not sign.

LONG ROAD TO PEACE

The United Nations describes the May 5 deal as only the first step on a long road toward peace. Diplomats say intensive Darfur-Darfur dialogue involving other armed groups and tribal leadership needed to be held as quickly as possible.

More than 2 million Darfuris have fled their homes to miserable camps, which have become tinderboxes of violence as thousands demonstrate against the deal on offer.

The AU statement expressed concern at the worsening security situation in Darfur especially in the past few weeks.

“Future violations of the ceasefire agreement will not be tolerated,” the AU statement said, adding the 7,000-strong AU force monitoring a truce in Darfur should be more “proactive” in self-defense and the protection of civilians.

AU forces have come under attack by frustrated Darfuris in the camps, who beat to death an AU translator earlier this month saying the AU was not protecting them from rape, killing and looting.

But the AU has trouble protecting itself. An AU soldier was killed and five other wounded in two attacks in Masteri in south-west Darfur last week.

Below the text of the AU statement:

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, recalls that, at its meeting of 15 May 2006, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), in reviewing the status of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in Abuja on 5 May 2006, had, among other things, urged the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) group led by Mr. Abdulwaihd El Nour and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Dr. Khalil Ibrahim to sign the DPA by 31 May 2006, failing which it would consider measures, including sanctions, to be applied against the leadership and members of the concerned groups.

That deadline expired yesterday, and the Chairperson notes with deep regret that despite all the efforts deployed by the AU and its leaders and international partners, as well as the continuing efforts both within and outside the Sudan, Mr. Abdulwahid of SLM/A and Dr. Khalil Ibrahim of JEM have failed to sign the DPA. The PSC shall soon meet to consider the necessary follow-up measures to be taken in light of its decision of 15 May 2006.

In the meantime, the AU, together with the signatory parties and its partners, is proceeding with the implementation of all aspects of the DPA. In this regard, the Chairperson notes with satisfaction the growing number of military and political leaders from the SLM/A and JEM, most of whom actively participated in the negotiations in Abuja, who have approached the AU at various levels to indicate their desire to be fully involved in the peace process and to be associated with the implementation of the DPA. The Commission is working out the modalities and mechanisms that will be submitted to the PSC on how best to accommodate their requests.

The Chairperson has closely followed with concern the progressive deterioration of the security situation in Darfur, especially in the past few weeks. The disturbances in the IDP camps, which were for the most part instigated mainly by those opposed to the Agreement, were characterised by attacks on AMIS personnel and property, disruption to AMIS firewood patrols, as well as the escort of humanitarian workers and convoys. Some of those attacks had led to tragic loss of life, including those of two AMIS personnel – Trooper Ahmed Idris and Interpreter Ahmed Daffalah. On behalf of the AU, the Chairperson conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

The Chairperson of the Commission wishes to state that future violations of the Ceasefire Agreement will not be tolerated. In this connection, he directs that AMIS should act proactively to fulfil all aspects of its mandate, including the right of self-defence and the protection of civilian population in danger. The Chairperson recalls that his Special Representative in the Sudan has already addressed a communication to all the concerned stakeholders, requesting them to designate their representatives to the Joint Commission and the Ceasefire Commission, in order to facilitate an urgent convening of these Commissions to fulfil their obligations under the DPA. The Chairperson underscores the need for these Commissions to meet as a matter of utmost urgency.

The Chairperson recalls the demand by the PSC that all groups in Darfur immediately commit themselves to be bound by the provisions of the DPA, in particular those relating to the Comprehensive Ceasefire, as well as relevant previous agreements, and that it would consider any act by any individual or group, including military acts on the ground and all other acts aimed at undermining the DPA, to be inimical to the interests of the people of Darfur and an affront to the AU and the larger international community. He also recalls that the PSC undertook to review regularly, in close coordination and consultation with the UN Security Council, the implementation of the DPA and to take strong and effective measures against any individual or group in Darfur that violate the Ceasefire Agreement and those who may attempt to block the implementation of the DPA, including a request to the United Nations Security Council to impose a travel ban and assets freeze, as provided for in resolution 1591 (2005). In this respect, the Chairperson of the Commission welcomes Security Council resolution 1679 (2006) of 16 May 2006, in which the Council expressed its intention to consider taking, including in response to a request by the African Union, strong and effective measures, such as travel ban and assets freeze, against any individual or group that violates or attempts to block the implementation of the DPA.

Pending the outcome of the meeting of the PSC, the Chairperson urges all Darfurians, especially in the IDP and refugee camps, to remain calm and to maintain the peace in the camps. This will facilitate the resumption of the delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as the activities of the AMIS Civilian Police relating to protection services through the firewood escorts.

The Chairperson deplores the many distortions and misrepresentations of the DPA by those opposed to it. He wishes to reassure the people of Darfur, especially those in the IDP camps, that the DPA constitutes a fair deal, which addresses their legitimate concerns and has enormous benefits for them. He also assures them that the concerns raised by all the Sudanese parties shall be addressed during the implementation of the agreement. As part of the implementation processes of the DPA, the AU and its Partners in the peace process are finalizing plans to communicate directly with the people of Darfur to explain these benefits to them in the coming days.

Addis Ababa, 1st June 2006

(Reuters/ST)