Nigeria notes progress on security in Darfur

KAMPALA, Uganda, Oct 10, 2004 (PANA) — Nigeria said it had noted progress in efforts towards ending the humanitarian crisis in the troubled western Sudan region of Darfur, according to Nigerian Vice President Al-Haji Abubakar Atiku here Sunday.

His view contrasted sharply to a recent UN report that accused Khartoum of doing virtually nothing to end the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and seen an estimated two million people displaced internally, while over 200,000 have fled into a Chad exile.

But Atiku told a news conference that since his government
commenced work on settling the crisis in Darfur, the security
concerns have been agreed upon between the warring parties.

“To us, we have registered progress on security in Darfur since
the presence of African Union forces. We will mobilise more
troops to sustain the progress of securing the region,” Atiku
told journalists.

“At the moment, the Khartoum government is cooperating towards
ending the conflict, having agreed on security matters in the
region. What is yet to be addressed are the political and social
issues.

“We are yet to study the UN report and make judgement on it,”
Atiku said at the end of his four-day state visit to Uganda.

Nigeria is mediating in the talks between the Khartoum and the
two rebel groups — the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the
Justice and Equality Movement of western Darfur — who have been
fighting the regime of President Omar El Bashir since February
2003.

The UN has described the conflict as the worst humanitarian
crisis in the world, accusing Sudan of orchestrating it by arming
the Arab controlled Janjaween militia of killing and maiming
civilians, and using the raping of women as a weapon of war.

His host and Uganda Vice President Professor Gilbert Bukenya,
described Nigeria as Africa’s big brother who small nations
should cooperate with for survival.

“Nigeria remains the biggest big brother in Africa. We the
smaller brothers must work closely with the big brother,
especially in the fight against poverty,” Bukenya told
journalists.

Atiku, in response to a question from journalists, pledged to
help Uganda develop their film industry as a tool of developing
the tourism industry.

“The film industry is part of our tourism. We have set up a
bi-commission now with Uganda. We will be establishing a film
industry here,” Atiku pledged.

Bukenya and Atiku, in a joint communiqué, revealed that they are
to effect a dormant aviation agreement between the two countries.
It was signed two-years ago.