US Frazer to visit Sudan 18 November for talks on Darfur

Nov 16, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — A high-level US delegation headed by the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer, will arrive in the country on Friday 18 November, for an official visit.

The visit comes in the framework of continuing the US efforts which the US deputy secretary of state, Robert Zoellick, had led to unite the rebel factions in Darfur and their views, so as to make the forthcoming Abuja talks a success.

The US official is due to discuss efforts to find a political settlement to the 30-month conflict in Darfur with Sudanese leaders in Khartoum and to visit Darfur for talks with rebel leaders.

Frazer’s visit aims to put pressure on the government of Sudan and on the rebels in Darfur to stick to the ceasefire and to work to achieve peace through the negotiations in Abuja.

The delegations are due to return to the Nigerian capital on November 20, with the talks formally beginning the following day.

Frazer’s visit came one week after the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Zoellick to Sudan. He was in Sudan to try to shore up the southern peace deal and strengthen peacemaking in the troubled Darfur region.

Frazer has already visited Sudan Thursday 20 October.

“The US still holds its position that genocide has occurred in Darfur,” Frazer said during her first visit to Sudan in reference to Khartoum’s repression of an armed uprising by ethnic minority rebels.

The United Nations estimates that 180,000 people have died, mainly through famine and disease. No firm figures exist on the number killed in fighting. Several million more have either fled into neighboring Chad or been displaced inside Sudan. Most of those who fled now live in sprawling camps, kept alive by food and medical care provided by aid workers.

Rape and other violence against women is common in the camps. Arab militia sometimes attack. During a recent raid, hundreds of Arab militia, mounted on horses and camels, burned shelters and killed at least 30 people.

(ST)