AU chief says shocked by attacks against African peacekeepers

April 2, 2007 — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, is deeply shocked and saddened by a series of incidents affecting the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS). These include, notably, the murder, on 5 March 2007, of two AMIS personnel in Graida, the shooting, in the Kurni general area of Jebel Marra, that clearly targeted an AMIS helicopter carrying the Deputy Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Ephreim Rurangwa, and his entourage, on 31st March 2007. This cowardly attempt to assassinate a senior member of AMIS was immediately followed by the killing of five AMIS protection Force soldiers from the Senegalese contingent, at the water point in Umbaro, on 1st April 2007.

The Chairperson notes with great concern the fact that, while the incidents at Graida and Umbaro took place in areas controlled by forces loyal to SLM/A (Minni), the incident at Kurni general area took place in a stronghold of Mr. Abdul Wahid El Nour. It is worth noting that these attacks have been launched against the backdrop of an increasing spate of harassments, hijackings, threats and blackmail that have been made against the Mission and its top leadership by some of those it is supposed to work with and assist, with the intended objective of discrediting the Mission and, ultimately, the efforts of the African Union in Darfur.

The Chairperson condemns these acts in the strongest possible terms and, once again, stresses that they are a clear violation of the different Ceasefire Agreements that all the Parties to the conflict in Darfur had, at different times, solemnly agreed to respect. He indeed views this increasing hostility against AMIS as a calculated and deliberate attempt not only to frustrate AMIS from performing its duties, but also to derail the ongoing efforts by the AU and the UN to re-energize the peace process, in the misguided and misleading view that there could be a military solution to the complex problem in Darfur. He reiterates his appeal to the Sudanese parties to extend their full cooperation and support to the efforts of the AU and UN Special Envoys, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim and Mr. Jan Elliason, aimed at broadening the peace process and consolidating the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

The Chairperson remains gravely concerned over the lack of sufficient cooperation, from both DPA signatories and the non-signatories, with the AMIS and the Humanitarian Agencies that are already working under extremely difficult and insecure conditions, with a real possibility for a catastrophic and tragic breakdown of the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, if the new and emerging threats are not managed in a more robust, comprehensive and cooperative manner by all the Stakeholders. He also warns that, if this trend continues, the peacekeeping operation in Darfur will be in serious jeopardy.

For its part, the African Union wishes to categorically state that it cannot continue to condone the unprovoked and unwarranted acts of aggression and impunity by the very same people that it continues to make great sacrifices to help. The AU will therefore work with the UN Security Council to consider the best ways and means of addressing the new threats to peace and security in Darfur. The Chairperson demands a speedy investigation into the recent incidents, with the full cooperation of all the parties involved. The culprits must be found and brought to justice under international law.

In the meantime, it has become imperative and unavoidable, in the present circumstances, to speedily implement the three-phase approach to the peacekeeping operation in Darfur, particularly the Heavy Support Package, as well as Hybrid Operation, on which the UN and the AU submitted concrete proposals to the Government of the Sudan. This will enable the Mission to be in a better position to fulfill its mandate in Darfur and at the same time protect its personnel and installations.

The Chairperson also takes this opportunity to salute and pay deserving tribute to the gallant men and women of AMIS who are deployed in Darfur under the most difficult and under-appreciated circumstances. He appeals to them to remain engaged in the noble action of helping the people of Darfur, especially those who continue to suffer from the senseless carnage, harassment, displacements and killings. He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of these fallen heroes, and wishes to remind them that the African Union stands steadfastly and in solidarity with them as they mourn their sons, husbands, brothers and friends. He assures the people and governments of Africa that the supreme sacrifice that some members of AMIS have paid for peace in Darfur shall never be in vain.

Addis Ababa, 2 April 2007