AU presses for improving Sudan, Chad relations

By Mayen Deng

May 22, 2007 (KHARTUOM) — The African Union has asked the Sudanese government to ponder on the obstacles that impede normalizing its relations with Chad along with striving to improve conditions in Darfur and endorse the Libyan role in the region.

The chairman of the African Peace and Security Council’s mission, dr. E.Philip Europa, following his meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alsamani Al-wasila, yesterday stated that their visit to Sudan aimed at fact finding and probing the volume of the problem between Sudan, and Chad and Central Africa to later submit a report to the African Peace and Security council to adopt decisions that might resolve the problem.

The official spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ali Elsadig, on his part revealed that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alsamani Al-wasila, had briefed the delegation of the African Peace and Security Council on the current standing of the Sudanese –Chadian relations, illustrating the problems they face and indicating that these relations are beginning to look up after the two countries have concluded an agreement prohibiting the launching of hostile actions from either terrain.

Elsadig reiterated that the AU delegation had impressed the need for expediting the convention of the Darfuri- Darfuri dialogue, boosting the efforts of the AU Envoy.

Salim Ahmed Salim, for realizing a political settlement for the region and appending the non-signatory factions to the Darfur peace deal.

(ST)