Sudan hands over militias’ disarmament plan to African Union

July 15, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — In a response to increasing critics on delay in the implementation of Darfur peace deal, Sudan has announced that plans have being handed over to the AU to disarm Jajaweed militias in Darfur.

The Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Jamal Mohamed Ibrahim, has announced that Sudan delivered the plan for disarmament of the militias in Darfur to the African Union (AU), 24 hours before the deadline.

In press statements Saturday, Ibrahim affirmed that any statements here and there by UN officials are out of the course, stressing that the government reserves the right to doubt the desires of those who make such statements.

He added that it is not for the interest of any party involved in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) to slow down its implementation, explaining that the government is always keener to implement the agreement.

UN top envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk was the first to mention the slowness in the implementation of the DPA signed between Khartoum and a rebel SLM faction led by Minni Minawi n 5 May.

In a paper published on his blog Pronk wrote “timely implementation of what has been agreed. So far, nothing has been done. None of the deadlines agreed in the text of the agreement has been met. The African Union is in charge but it clearly lacks the capacity to lead the process of implementation.”

(ST)