Communiqué of AU Scourity Council on deteriorating security in Darfur

AFRICAN UNION

Oct 10, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 41st meeting, held on 10 October 2005, adopted the following decision on the deteriorating security situation in Darfur:

The Council,

1. Expresses deep concern over the deteriorating security situation throughout Darfur since late August 2005, including the killings, wounding, and abduction of the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) personnel, and the recent trend whereby civilians and IDPs are deliberately targeted and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance impeded, as well as the shoot-to-kill policy against the AMIS personnel and others;

2. Unreservedly condemns the killing of two members of the Nigerian contingent serving with AMIS in Sector 2, Nyala, and two civilian drivers, employees of an AMIS contractor, PAE, as well as the abduction of 38 AMIS personnel in Sector 5, Tine, and the seizure of their equipment and vehicles. Council demands the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted AMIS personnel, together with their equipment and vehicles. Council holds the parties responsible for the atrocities committed and requests them to hand-over the perpetrators to be brought to justice;

3. Equally condemns, as reported by the AMIS, the attack by the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLMA) on Arab nomads in Turba, near Al Malam, on 23 August 2005, followed by their attack on the Government of the Sudan (GoS) military camp in Sheiria on 19 September 2005, as well as the Janjaweed/Armed militia attack on Aru Sharo, Arga and Gosmino, on 28 September 2005, and the attack on Tawilla and its IDP camps on the 29 September 2005, all of which resulted in high casualty on innocent civilians and disruption to humanitarian activities in the area;

4. Expresses concern that these incidents, unless brought to an immediate end, could adversely affect the on going efforts to bring about a comprehensive peace agreement in Darfur,

5. Demands that all the parties fully respect their commitments under the N’djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement of 8 April 2005 and the related Abuja Protocols on Humanitarian and Security Issues, and avoid acts that could undermine the AU efforts in Darfur. In this respect, Council calls upon the rebel movements to submit to the verification of their locations and urges especially SLM/A to refrain from further violation of the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement and the Abuja Protocols by attacking GoS positions and military convoys, as well as hindering AMIS patrols and the free flow of commercial and humanitarian traffic on the roads. Council further calls upon the GoS to restrain its police and military and use all necessary means to restrain and disarm the Janjaweed/armed militia;

6. Requests the GoS to cooperate fully with AMIS, particularly as it concerns the deployment of equipment necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the Mission. In this regard, Council calls on the GoS to expedite action on the issuance of diplomatic clearance for the deployment of all of 105 Armored Personnel Carriers necessary for the protection of AMIS personnel and civilians in danger of attack;

7. Urges all the parties to fully participate in the Joint Commission meeting scheduled to be held in N’djamena on the 13th October 2005;

8. Requests the Commission to examine ways and means of strengthening the mechanisms for effective compliance by the Sudanese parties with all the agreements they have signed as well as with the decisions of the Ceasefire Commission and the Joint Commission and to urgently submit, for consideration and decision by Council, concrete proposals on the best way forward;

9. Expresses support to the decision of the Chairperson of the Commission to dispatch a high level military team to Darfur to assess the situation and make recommendations on how to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future;

10. Decides to bring to the attention of the United Nations Security Council the prevailing situation in Darfur;

11. Reaffirms its full support to, and confidence in, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, as well as the entire AMIS personnel, for their tireless efforts and dedication to the cause of peace in Darfur and urges all parties to extend unreserved cooperation to AMIS to enable it discharge its mission effectively;

12. Decides to remain seized of the matter.