Egypt confirms sending military observers to Darfur
KHARTOUM, July 31 (AFP) — Egypt confirmed here Saturday it was sending military officers to join African Union-led observers monitoring a ceasefire between Sudanese government forces and rebels in the troubled western region of Darfur.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit made the announcement at a joint news conference with his counterpart, Mustafa Osman Ismail, following a meeting with President Omar el-Bashir.
“We have already sent a list of the names of those officers to the AU headquarters and they will arrive in Darfur in the near future,” said Abul Gheit.
“It is a small group but will be effective,” he added.
During the meeting, Abul Gheit delivered a message to Beshir from the Egyptian leader urging Sudan to rein in pro-government Arab militias blamed for many of the atrocities in Darfur.
He flew to Khartoum a day after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution that threatened the Sudanese government with “measures” if it failed to end the bloodshed in Darfur.
The conflict has left up to 50,000 people dead and forced 1.2 million people from their homes.
“We wished the resolution would not be issued at this time as we believed the Sudanese government would need some time to implement an agreement it concluded with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan,” the Egyptian minister told reporters.
Egypt, which has been urged by the United States to use its influence over Sudan to solve the crisis, had tried to temper international pressure on its southern neighbor, but during his visit in Khartoum, Abul Gheit advised Sudan to focus on positive aspects of the resolution.
He said the resolution “contained elements that can be a basis for constructive dialogue between Sudan and the Security Council, serve the interests of the Sudanese people and defuse the explosive situation.”
The UN Security Council resolution gave Sudan 30 days to rein in the militias or face international action.
The Egyptian foreign minister was due to travel later in the day to el-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, view the situation first hand.