US Bush says worry about the prospect of Sudan heading AU

Jan 23, 2006 (MANHATTAN, United States) — President George W. Bush said that the United States was worried about the prospect of Sudan taking over the presidency of the African Union this week.

The 53-nation AU is holding a summit in Khartoum this week and Sudan is bidding to take over the leadership of the regional organisation. But this has also raised problems as the AU has a 7,000-strong peace-keeping force in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

“It is a concern to us, and it should be a concern to the AU nations,” Bush said when asked about Darfur by a member of the audience at a public meeting in Manhattan, Kansas.

Bush highlighted that if Sudan takes over the bloc’s leadership it would “put them the titular head of the troops on the ground.”

Sudan on Monday offered to withdraw its bid to avoid a split among AU leaders and a search was on for alternative candidates at the summit.

Bush said Darfur remained “an important issue” for the US government.

“We’re watching it very carefully. We are considering different strategies as to how to make sure that there’s enough protection at least to get people help and protection.”

Bush said the United States was also interested in brokering a peace accord, similar to one that ended a prolonged civil war between rebels in southern Sudan and the central government.

Darfur rebels taking part in AU-sponsored peace talks in Abuja had warned they would pull out of the negotiations if Sudan was given the presidency of the AU.

About 300,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced since 2003 in fighting between Darfur rebels and government forces backed by militias, triggering one of the continent’s worst humanitarian crises.

(ST)