Sudan reiterates opposition to Darfur peacekeeping forces
By Wasil Ali
April 5, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan today reiterated its opposition to deploying UN peacekeeping forces in Darfur in separate meetings with a bipartisan delegation from the US congress and the EU Special Representative to Sudan Pekka Haavisto.
This is the first statement made by a Sudanese official on the issue of UN peacekeeping forces since the meeting that took place between the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Sudan’s president Omar Hassan al-Bashir in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the Arab Summit.
An announcement was made by Saudi foreign Minister following the meeting that al-Bashir agreed to let UN forces into Darfur describing it as a “breakthrough”. The Riyadh agreement prompted Ban to urge the US & UK for more time to engage in diplomacy with Sudan on the issue of UN peacekeeping forces in Darfur.
Al-Sadiq blasted the stance of western countries and accused them of sending wrong signals to the Darfur rebels by pressuring Khartoum. He added that Sudan is committed to implementing the agreements signed with the UN and the understanding reached between al-Bashir and Ban in Riyadh.
The spokesperson stressed that AU forces in Darfur need logistical & financial support to fight off rebel forces attacking them. He called the divisions within the rebel groups as an obstacle to peace in Darfur.
The AU top official in Sudan Sam Ibok said this week that his forces “can no longer cope with the dangers in Darfur” after unknown gunmen killed five AU troops near the Sudanese border with Chad. Ibok added that without the help of the UN troops, the AU forces are impotent.
(ST)