AU chief calls for financial support for African peacekeepers Darfur
April 29, 2007 ( KHARTOUM) — Alpha Omar Konare, visiting Chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU), called here Sunday for the international community’s logistic and financial supports for the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur.
The AU chief made the call in a press conference following his meeting with Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir, during which they discussed a three-phase plan on deploying UN-AU hybrid force in the western Sudanese region Darfur according to an agreement reached by the UN, the AU and the Sudanese government last November.
“If the demanded logistic, financial and equipment supports are provided for the African forces in Darfur, they can deal with the challenges there,” Konare told the reporters.
He reiterated that the Darfur problem must be resolved through political process, stressing AU’s determination to hold its responsibility.
The AU chief, meanwhile, accused the Darfur rebel movements, which have refused to accept an AU-sponsored Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed by the Sudanese government and a rebel faction on May 5 last year, of continuing military activities.
Calling on all the non-signatories of the DPA to be involved in the peace process, Konare stressed that the Darfur problem should be resolved by the Sudanese themselves.
Konare left Khartoum Sunday evening after winding up a several hours short visit to Sudan.
The UN, the AU and the Sudanese government agreed in November last year on a three-phase support plan, also known as the Annan plan as it was put forward by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
With the first phase of the plan, also known as a light support package, already underway, the three parties reached an agreement in principle in Addis Ababa on April 9 to inaugurate the second phase of a UN support plan for the AU mission in Darfur, known as “the heavy support phase.”
The second phase involves the deployment of 3,000 UN troops and six attack helicopters in Darfur to support the 7,800-strongAfrican force, as well as preparation for the next phase, in which a much larger UN force would be sent to the region.
On April 16, the Sudanese government announced its approval of inaugurating the second phase.
Majzoub al-Khalifa, the Sudanese presidential adviser, said Sunday that Sudan did not oppose the deployment of additional troops in Darfur as long as all the forces there should be commanded by the AU.
He disclosed that the President al-Bashir had stressed to Konare the commitment of the Sudanese Armed Forces to a two-month ceasefire, which started 10 days ago, to create the atmosphere for the resumption of the peace negotiations.
(Xinhua)