Sudan urges UN’s support for African peace efforts on Darfur

ABUJA, Sept 4 (AFP) — Sudan Saturday appealed to the UN Security Council to support the African Union’s peace efforts in resolving the crisis in the war-torn Darfur region.

African Union-sponsored talks between the Sudanese government and two rebel groups from Darfur are currently taking place in the
Nigerian capital Abuja.

“The Security Council is called upon not to take any action to
impede the quest of the two parties for securing a solution to the
problem,” Sudan’s minister of state for foreign affairs Najib
Abdelwahab told reporters.

“The Security Council should assist the two parties to find a
way out and also to assist the AU to properly supervise and monitor
the efforts of the parties to secure a lasting and cherished peace
and security.

“The most important thing is that the issue of Darfur is dealt
with by the people concerned and under the auspices of the most
competent regional organisation, the AU,” he said.

The minister said the talks in Abuja were more relevant to the
situation in Darfur than that in the Security Council.

He said since the two warring parties have seen the need for
peace in Sudan, they should be encouraged to achieve it.

According to UN estimates, up to 50,000 people have died in
Darfur since rebels rose up against the government in February last
year, and about 1.4 million people have fled their homes.

The Security Council has ordered that Khartoum disarm the
Janjaweed, a government-backed Arab militia accused of human rights
abuses against the African population of Darfur and violations of a
ceasefire agreement.

The Council gave Khartoum a 30-day deadline, which expired
Sunday. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Wednesday the militia
had not been disarmed and attacks were continuing.

Some UN member states want to impose diplomatic or economic
sanctions against Sudan, while others want to boost the
international presence in Darfur to ensure that the attacks stop.

The European Union renewed its threats Saturday to slap
sanctions on Sudan if it fails to rein in the Janjaweed.

The African Union has sent 133 unarmed military observers in
Darfur and a 300-strong force of Rwandan and Nigerian peacekeepers
to protect them as they monitor a ceasefire signed between the
government and rebels on April 9.