Sudanese FM, AU official discuss violence in Darfur

3 Oct, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol, met African Union (AU) deputy chairman Patrick Mazimhaka in his office today and discussed issues concerning AU operations in Sudan, and the recent escalation of violence in Darfur.

The chargé of AU affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Siraj al-Din Hamid, told the official SUNA News Agency that the meeting touched on the current needs of the AU, the ongoing talks in Abuja, and what the government could do to raise morale and push forward the negotiations.

But according to Reuters, the AU spokesman Adam Thiam said that deputy chairman Patrick Mazimhaka was in Khartoum “to express the concern of the AU in light of the recent development in Darfur and demand explanation over recent attacks on villages and refugee camps in Darfur in which 32 people were killed,”.

Hamid added that the meeting touched on the current arrangements being made for an African summit in Khartoum next year.

The AU delegation was satisfied with the arrangements being made by the government for the summit, which is expected to attract an unprecedented large number of leaders from African countries and representatives of partners and donor countries who attended the Oslo conference.

Patrick congratulated the minister for his appointment as minister of foreign affairs in the Government of National Unity.

Meanwhile, the minister affirmed the government’s commitment to implement the peace agreement, as well as Sudan’s concern about AU operations in the country.

(ST)