AU envoy urges deployment of Darfur forces
May 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union envoy for Darfur has called for a swift deployment of the AU-Un hybrid force in the western Sudan, saying peace on the ground is crucial for a negotiated political solution for the crisis.
Salim who is often described as the ally of the Sudanese government told the meeting that the ill-equipped African force in Darfur “needs to be reinforced and be given the necessary means to effectively and efficiently execute their responsibilities.”
He further, underscored the urgency to implement the AU-UN and Sudan understanding of November 16, 2006 related to the three support packages by the United Nations to the African forces in Darfur.
Khartoum has accepted the two first packages but still reserves its response. It should give its definitive position at the next week meeting in Addis Ababa.
The UN Security Council endorsed on Friday May 25 a report on a planned UN-African Union joint peacekeeping operation in Darfur which calls for deploying a robust, mobile force of around 20,000 troops with Khartoum’s consent.
Salim also, hailed the initiative of Salva Kiir, First vice President, to hold a finding common ground meeting in Juba between the different Darfur rebel groups. He reaffirmed the AU-UN support of this initiative.
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REMARKS BY DR. SALIM AHMED SALIM, AU SPECIAL ENVOY ON DARFUR AT THE CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ON DARFUR AT THE SEA CLIFF DAR ES SALAAM, SATURDAY, 26 MAY 2007
Honourable Guest of Honour,
Honourable Chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs Committees of Parliament,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Your Excellencies High Commissioners and Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me first and foremost to welcome you all to this Consultative meeting. A special welcome goes to all those who have travelled from near and far distances so as to be here.
KARIBUNI SANA
I would like at the outset to recognize the energetic efforts made by organizers of these consultations. In particular I would like to pay tribute to the Honourable Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Hon. Usman Bulage for the lead role he has played in this direction and for his singular dedication to make this gathering possible. I recall my own discussion with him two years ago in Abuja when he brought up this subject. This was the time I was involved in the Abuja Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur in my then capacity as the AU Special Envoy and Chief Mediator.
I also wish to express my deep appreciation to the Organizers of this meeting for the kind invitation extended to me to be part of this opening ceremony. The occasion is both auspicious and timely. It is highly symbolic in many respects. Darfur is one of the issues that is currently seriously preoccupying the leaders of our Continent and the African Union. African Parliamentarians as the democratically elected representatives of the continent cannot afford to ignore or remain indifferent to one of the greatest challenges that is confronting Africa. Indeed, Darfur is simply not a problem for Governments alone. The elected representatives of the people of Africa have every justification to make their collective voices heard in defence of the defenceless and the voiceless.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Darfur is not a military problem. Darfur is a very serious political problem. Those who insist on a military response and a military solution to the crisis are wrong. Yes, there are security and military related manifestations of the conflict. There are severe humanitarian consequences with massive internal displacements and an outflow of refugees. Darfur has become a place where human suffering has become almost endemic. It is a region where protagonists adopted and still pursue the logic of war and believe in a military strategy to resolve the problem. But these are just manifestations of a more deeply rooted problem- a problem that in the essence is political deriving from years of marginalization, politics of exclusion, competition for scarce resources of water and arable land compounded by mounting environmental degradation as well as sheer banditry and criminality.
It should also be pointed out that the conflict is complex and multi-dimensional. It has national, regional and international dimensions. Evidently therefore, an end to conflict and the attainment of durable peace must involve first and foremost the people of Darfur themselves, the people of Sudan as a whole, the countries of the region, Africa and the wider international community.
It is now four years since the armed conflict erupted. All efforts at bringing it to an end have thus far not produced the required results. But the efforts by Africa and the International Community continue.
Some of us had placed great hopes and expectations at the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement on May 5, 2007. The Abuja negotiations provided participation and unfettered access for the widest array of international Experts and Partners including the UN, the European Union, the League of Arab States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA. AU member states including Chad, Nigeria, Libya, Eritrea, Egypt and the Republic of Congo participated in the process at one time or another. The Agreement did address many of the fundamental issues at the core of the conflict and in the view of both the African Union and the United Nations contain elements that remain valid and should form the basis for further discussion. It is at the same time a truism that this Agreement has not been fully honoured by the signatories, nor is it supported by a large segment of the population of Darfur. As efforts are being made to have an inclusive peace process, it is logical that the concerns of those who have not signed the Agreement be carefully considered and taken into account.
In November last year the Africa Union and the United Nations decided to deploy a joint mission to Darfur with a view to re-energise the political process. This joint mission is the first ever of its kind and is intended to put the full weight of the Africa Union and the United Nations behind the Joint efforts of the Special Envoys to robustly and constructively engage the Darfur stakeholders on the ground, to work towards an end to the conflict and the attainment of sustainable peace in the region.
As Special Envoys for Darfur appointed respectively by the Chairperson of the Commission of the Africa Union and the Secretary General of the United Nations, I and my colleague and friend Jan Eliasson of Sweden have been tasked by the International Community to put together a mediation process which will bring together all the parties to the conflict. This process has entailed intensive consultations with the parties – those who have signed and those who have not signed the Abuja Agreement. Significantly however we have expanded the scope to include the wider civil society, women’s groups, tribal leaders and representative of the IDP camps. Equally important we have sought the cooperation of the Regional actors whose role is very important if our common objective is to be attained. The ultimate objective is to get key stakeholders around the table to agree on a way forward for Darfur.
The challenge facing Africa and the wider international Community in Darfur is formidable. Continued fighting between the Government forces with its allied Militia, the Janjaweed on one hand and some of the rebel factions on the other; infighting among the various rebel factions- a sad consequence of the further fragmentation of the rebel movements; sheer banditry and criminality; the threats against Humanitarian workers which complicate delivery of humanitarian assistance; the implications of the conflict in Darfur for Chad and Central Africa Republic and the dramatic eruption of Inter- tribal fighting which has resulted in serious causalities are some of the factors to be borne in mind. In this context, sustained pressure need to be exerted on all those who are obstructing the peace process.
At the same time it is clear that our efforts at mediation cannot significantly move forward unless there is peace on the ground. Keeping the peace and a redynamised political process go hand in hand. Thus it is crucial to strengthen the African Peace keeping Force now operating in Darfur. It is important to underscore the fact that the African Union deployment of Military Forces is the biggest of such deployment, without precedence in the history of the Continental Organisation and predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity. Furthermore, the AU Mission in Darfur was deployed under very difficult circumstances, with its troops and personnel having to make considerable sacrifices to assist the people of Darfur. This Force needs to be reinforced and be given the necessary means to effectively and efficiently execute their responsibilities. In this context, the Addis Ababa decision of the High Level Consultations of November 16, 2007 as endorsed by the Abuja Summit of the African Peace and Security Council on 30 November 2007, cries out for speedy implementation. That decision inter alia calls for a three phased approach in support of the Peace Keeping Forces. These are light support, heavy support and ultimately a hybrid Force.
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is self evident that for meaningful negotiations to take place there must be unity and cohesion among the numerous rebel factions. At the very least, these factions should have a common position or platform. Regional countries have made efforts in this direction and so have we and many others. Presently the SPLM and its Leader, First Vice P-resident of the Sudan, Mr. Salva Kiir has taken an initiative to convene a meeting in Southern Sudan of all leaders and/or representatives of the various factions with a view to facilitating consultations leading to some understanding and a common position. Both the AU and the UN support this SPLM initiative.
Let me conclude by stating the obvious. We face challenging times ahead. From the consultations that Jan Eliasson and I have had so far we are convinced that there are real possibilities to resolve the problems in Darfur through negotiations. But the road ahead will not be easy. There is a lot of pain, mistrust and suspicion. But there is also an overwhelming desire of the people of DARFUR for Peace.
I hope these remarks will be helpful as you begin deliberations and thank you for your kind attention.