Inter-African rights watchdog slams AU rejection of non African troops

September 25, 2007 (OUAGADOUGOU) — The Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH) expresses its deep concern about the dramatic human rights and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Reports of killing, destruction of life and livelihood as well as sexual violence against women and forceful displacement of civilians continue in the region unabated. No efforts were made by government of Sudan to disarm the Janjaweed and other militia groups that commit all sorts of crimes and violence in the region with total impunity including against African Union (AU) troops, aid workers and humanitarian relief organisations. The government of Sudan continues to underestimate the gravity of the situation in the region and makes no efforts to put an end to the ongoing violence. This intolerable situation continues despite the fact that at present there are more than 7,000 AU soldiers and personnel on the ground in Darfur for the third successive year. The AU institutions and peacekeeping force in Darfur have carried out commendable work under difficult conditions. The UIDH deplores that the AU efforts were not successful in delivering peace and security in the region and that the volume and magnitude of the crisis in Darfur largely surpasses heir limited means and mandate.

This is why the UDIH welcomes Resolution 1769 (2007) on the situation in Darfur, which was adopted by the UN Security Council on 31 July 2007. Resolution 1769 (2007) authorized the deployment of 26,000 troops and civilian police force in what is known as the AU/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID), which is the world’s largest peacekeeping operation since the creation of the UN. This is a substantial step in the right direction towards ending the destruction campaign in Darfur. However, successful implementation of resolution 1769 (2007) requires close cooperation between the AU and the UN in all aspects of UNMID including the recruitment of soldiers and command and control operations.

The UDIH is very much concerned that there are serious attempts by Sudan supported by the AU Commission and some African states to limit participation in UNAMID to soldiers from African states only and to exclude all other members of the international community. It is totally unacceptable that participants at the High Level Meeting on Darfur which was organised in New York on 21September 2007 under the joint chairmanship of Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré could not agree on the participation of forces contributed by Uruguay and Thailand as well as the military engineering unit offered by Norway. The objection of Sudan against the participation of soldiers from these three countries which was backed by the AU represents serious retreat from arrangements agreed upon by the AU and UN under resolution 1769(2007). It could put the whole peacekeeping operation in Darfur in jeopardy. They would undermine the fundamental principle of collaboration between the AU and UN in this concern.

The AU position in support of Sudan was premeditated. On August 12, 2007 Mr. Konaré President of AU Commission said that: “I can confirm today that we have received sufficient commitments from African countries that we will not have to resort to non-African forces.” Excluding non-African forces from participation in UNAMID will deprive it of the critical expertise and skills needed for any efforts to protect civilians in Darfur. This strategy will create conflict with the rebel movements and the war-affected communities in Darfur as both of them have made clear demand for the deployment of international troops to protect

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