AU Presidency: Credibility of the African Union at stake

Contact: Achieng Akena at +256 75 230 0107

Jan 22, 2007 (NAIROBI) — As preparations for the African Union (AU) summit
get underway in Addis Ababa this week, a coalition of African
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has issued an urgent appeal to
African Heads of State to consider the dire situation of millions of war
affected civilians in Darfur before making a decision on the Presidency of
the AU.

Further to the postponement of its appointment as President of the AU last
year, the Government of Sudan is believed to be once again pressing heavily
for its accession to the Presidency of the 53 member body.

In letters sent to African Heads of State this weekend, the Darfur
Consortium, a coalition of over 40 African and Africa-focused NGOs,
expressed “deep concern with respect to plans agreed last year by the AU
Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Khartoum, Sudan, to confer the
AU Presidency for 2007-2008 on the Government of Sudan”. Such a decision,
the group stated, had the potential to “seriously undermine the AU’s
credibility and compromise the authority of its institutions”.

“We urge that African Heads of State examine carefully the role and function
of the AU Presidency – both with respect to the vital responsibilities with
which the AU is tasked in Darfur but also in order to maintain the
credibility and effectiveness of the AU institution as a whole as guardian
of peace and security on the continent,” said Dismas Nkunda, a spokesperson
for the Consortium.

The Consortium’s letter, sent Saturday, pointed out that the situation for
civilians in Darfur had significantly worsened since last year, particularly
since the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Not only have attacks
by Government forces on civilian areas increased, but credible reports also
indicate that the Janjaweed militia are being rearmed rather than disbanded
as required by numerous agreements. The splintering of the opposition and
the proliferation of new armed groups has also contributed to an upsurge in
violence.

In setting out the background to its opposition to the Sudanese Presidential
bid, the Consortium drew attention to the vital role of the AU in stewarding
the structures set up under the DPA and ensuring its fair implementation.
The impartiality of the AU in monitoring the DPA would “be called into
question should one of the parties to the conflict preside over the most
important organ of the African Union,” the letter said. With revitalization
of the faltering peace process essential to halting the conflict, any
capacity for the AU to facilitate rapprochement “would be thrown in jeopardy
should Khartoum assume the presidency of the African Union.”

“The people of Darfur are suffering a crisis of confidence in the AU mission
on the ground-what little trust remains will be destroyed if the very force
charged with protecting them is seen to be directed from Khartoum”, said
Dismas Nkunda today speaking from Nairobi. The neutral character of the AMIS
mission must be preserved.

Nkunda also pointed out pointed out that the inter-state character of the
Darfur conflict – with Chad, the Central African Republic and Sudan all
alleging mutual aggression – made the independent mediation role of the AU
even more critical. “Where the AU must arbitrate role in inter-state
conflict we believe that is imprudent for such States to be considered for
the Presidency”, said Dismas Nkunda. “The AU President must be free to act
vigorously and impartially faced with threats to African regional peace and
security”.

For more information, please see www.darfurconsortium.org