AU regrets local press campaign against African peacekeepers
Mar 7, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union Mission in the Sudan regretted a series of articles published recently by the Sudanese press denigrating the role of the African peacekeeping force in Sudan’s troubled Darfur.
In reaction to a question by the Khartoum based Akhbar al-Youm, regarding the negative statements and articles recently published by some Sudanese local newspapers about the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS), Noureddine Mezni, AU Spokesman, deplored the said statements and articles, describing them as mere attempts to tarnish the image of the African Mission which has been working so hard in the Sudan since its establishment over one and a half years ago.
The efforts deployed by AMIS, he said, were intended to achieve the noble goal of bringing peace and stability to Darfur. AMIS presence in the Sudan, he further said, was in response to the Sudan’s request to the African Union.
Expressing astonishment at the press publications, Mezni stated: “I hope the statements attributed to some officials as published by the local newspapers are not accurate.”
He further added that the officials concerned are fully aware of the huge contributions and immense sacrifices made by the AU Mission in the Sudan in pursuit of this noble objective.
Mezni pointed out that AMIS is the biggest Mission ever mounted by the African Union since its inception, comprising more than seven thousand African men and women, who are proud to demonstrate African solidarity with the people of the Sudan. They have been performing their duties in the best manner possible, making great sacrifices on behalf of Africa, underscored the AU Spokesman.
He expressed the hope that the Sudanese local press would be more positive in dealing with the performance of the AU Mission in the Sudan, and would help create a conducive atmosphere to strengthen and enable it to discharge its responsibilities, thereby serving the cause of peace in Darfur.
Some officials in Khartoum were recently quoted by the local press as saying that AMIS was causing the spread of the AIDS epidemic and carrying out Christianization activities in Darfur.
(ST)