French human rights envoy visits Sudan

October 21, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — French secretary of state for human rights Rama Yade arrived in Khartoum on Sunday for talks with officials ahead of a visit to the violence-stricken western region of Darfur.

In Khartoum, Yade will discuss the situation in Darfur and the implementation of the shaky north-south peace deal, foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said on Friday.

The French diplomat will head to Al-Fasher, capital of North Darfur, to meet Sudanese officials, aid organisations, officials from the African Union mission and of the hybrid AU-United Nations peacekeeping force there, Andreani said.

International rights bodies have accused parties involved in the Darfur conflict of human rights violations.

More than two million people have fled their homes and at least 200,000 have died from the combined effects of famine and conflict since Khartoum enlisted militia allies to put down a revolt in 2003, according to the United Nations.

During her visit, Yade will also discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 between Khartoum and southern rebels to end African’s longest running civil war which killed at least 1.5 million people.

(AFP)