US praises AU for expanding military capabilities in Darfur

Dec 8, 2005 (WASHINGTON) — The United States praised the African Union Thursday for expanding its military capabilities in Sudan’s western Darfur region amid continuing violence and instability.

A State Department spokesman, Adam Ereli, said the arrival of additional armored personnel carriers should give African Union peacekeeping forces “important new capabilities.”

He said negotiations in the Nigerian capital of Abuja between the Sudanese government and rebel groups in Darfur to reach a political solution took an important step forward when the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement joined the talks.

“That’s an important step forward,” he said, because in the long-term a political solution is the only way the problem can be resolved.

The SPLM, which controls the southern part of Sudan, signed a peace agreement with the Khartoum government in January ending a 21-year civil war and as part of the accord obtained the positon of first vice president.

The Darfur conflict started in 2003 after members of ethnic African tribes took up arms, complaining of neglect and discrimination by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

In a statement Ereli said the United State congratulated the people of southern Sudan on the signing of their constitution on Dec. 4.

“This is a step foward in Sudan’s political process and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said.

Ereli said this agreement remained the key to Sudan’s future, providing the framework and basis for power sharing, wealth sharing and regional stability.

“The United States continues to seek a peaceful and democratic Sudan,” he said. “We remain concerned by the violence in Darfur and have stressed to the Sudanese leaders that this violence must end.”

(AP/ST)