Darfur SLM leader says hybrid force deployment not enough
Dec 25, 2006 (LONDON) — A Darfur rebel leader criticized deployment of AU-Un force in support of the existing African Unions forces. He said this step could be considered as “complaisance towards genocide in Darfur”.
Al-Nur told Sudan Tribune by telephone that the current mandate of the AU force would not allow the protection of the civilians in Darfur. He added that their demand for international forces in Darfur is justified by the fact that UN resolution 1706 clearly stipulated the protection of Darfur people.
“We want a clear disposition stipulating the protection of the civilians and particularly women and children and internally displaced persons as it provided in article 9 of the UN Security Council resolution 1706.”
“Under Addis Ababa agreement the hybrid force’s mandate is toothless” Al Nur said.
The rebel leader expressed fears that Sudanese government would not implement the 16 and 30 November agreements on the hybrid force. He further urged the world to maintain pressure on Khartoum.
“The international community should be aware to Khartoum manipulations “There are more that 10 resolutions on Darfur but all of them are not implemented.” He also said that that Khartoum while manoeuvring with the international community continues to attack civilians.
He accused Sudanese government of carrying out more than 50 attacks against civilians this month.
In deference to Khartoum’s opposition, the United Nations scaled back its plans — adopted in UN 1706 — to replace the African Union force of 7,000 troops in Darfur with the 20,000 U.N. force and, since early November, has been pushing to reinforce the existing AU force with smaller numbers of U.N. personnel as well as technical and financial assistance.
The strength of the peacekeeping force should be 17,000 and 3,000 police. However, the GoS representative indicated that he would need to consult with his government on this figure. A meeting would be held Tuesday 26 to discuss the number of the hybrid force.
Earlier in December, Natsios said Sudan could not “cherry-pick” the plan — accepting some elements but rejecting others — because nations would only contribute troops if Khartoum agreed to a contingent large enough to ensure their own self-protection.
Al-Nur renewed his call to the international community to support the reunification of the SLM. “Serious efforts are going on to achieve the full unity of the movement; and we need political, diplomatic and material support of the international community;” he stressed.
“We work seriously to realize the unity of the Darfurians and the Sudanese generally under the basis of citizenship and secular state;” he added.
Al Nur wished a Merry Christmas, and thanked the international community, the ONGs and the civil society organizations for their efforts for peace and the protection of Darfur people.
He also expressed a Marry Christmas to all the Sudanese Christians saying “we wish that 2007 would be a year of peace in Sudan.”
(ST)