Sudan warns against UN resolution on hybrid force without its consent
By: Wasil Ali
July 21, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government warned the UN Security Council from adopting a resolution on the UN-AU hybrid force without its approval.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) is working on a resolution authorizing up to 26,000 troops and police in Darfur.
But several council members and Sudan expressed reservations on some parts of the resolution particularly the threat of further measures” if any of the parties “fail to fulfill their commitments or cooperate fully.”
The Sudanese government objected to the mandate allowing the force to “use all necessary means” to protect civilians.
Abdalhaleem said that the proposed text “brings back the same controversial issues that caused disagreement between Khartoum and some UNSC members”.
Sudan’s envoy said that the text of the resolution places the force under the UN command against the will of Khartoum which insists on the “African nature of the force”.
Abdalhaleem cautioned that unless Sudan’s concerns are adressed the resolution will “have the same fate as resolution 1706”.
On Friday a State Department official, speaking to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity said that the US wants a resolution that clearly provides for “U.N. command and control with a single chain of command and a Chapter VII authority to use all means to protect civilians”.
“Our position on this is not negotiable” the official added.
It is not clear how the differences between UNSC and Khartoum can be bridged. The leaders of France and Britain said Friday that they will send their foreign ministers to New York to push for U.N. action “with the greatest speed.”
The Sudanese government agreed unconditionally to allow the deployment of the hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force in the Darfur region following talks in Khartoum with a delegation of the UNSC in June.
(ST)