‘Save Darfur’ slams Sudan president statements on Darfur force
By Wasil Ali
November 23, 2007 (WASHINGTON) – The Save Darfur coalition decried statements by Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on the peacekeeping force to be deployed in the war ravaged region.
The Sudanese leader also said that the force will be under African Union (AU) command and wearing their helmets.
Larry Rossin, a board member of the Save Darfur Coalition and a former U.N. official told Sudan Tribune that Al-Bashir’s statements is another example of him reneging on agreements.
“Al-Bashir has told many lies to the UN, International community and the UN Security Council (UNSC). He said he accepted the force unconditionally when the UNSC were in Khartoum last June and here he is lying again” he added.
UN Security Council resolution 1769 establishing UN-AU hybrid force provided for a transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the force known as UNAMID by December 31st.
Rossin stressed that the resolution “called for predominantly African force and not an exclusive one under UN command”.
US officials told Sudan Tribune that the ultimate decision lies with the UN Department of Peacekeeping operations (UNDPK).
But Rossin called on the US administration and other governments to intervene.
“The UN is an organization of member states and they have to tell it what to do” he said.
International experts estimate some 200,000 have died and over 2 million have been driven from their homes during 4-1/2 years of fighting in Darfur. Sudan puts the death toll from the conflict at just 9,000.
(ST)