US indicates opposition to Sudan chairmanship of Africa

Jan 20, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The State Department indicated opposition Friday to Sudan assuming the African Union chairmanship at a time when the country is widely accused of stoking violence in the western Darfur region.

“I think there are certain contradictions in the idea of Sudan holding the chair of the AU while there is an AU mission in Sudan designed to help protect Sudanese citizens in part from the government of Sudan,” spokesman Sean McCormack said.

He said it is a contradiction that only the AU can resolve.

By tradition, Sudan’s President Omar El-Bashir should become the next chairman of the 53-nation regional bloc at its upcoming summit in Sudan capital on Jan. 23-24.

More than 50 African human rights and civil society groups have written to the continent’s leaders expressing alarm at Sudan’s bid to become AU chair.

The letter pointed to Sudan’s responsibility for the continuing humanitarian tragedy in Darfur.

Electing Sudan as chair would would place the country in the position of being both participant and mediator in ongoing peace talks, the rights groups said.