Sudan withdraws candidacy for African Union presidency

January 30, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Sudan has decided not to run for African Union (AU) presidency, its foreign minister said today.

“Our focus in the coming period is to mend bridges with regional players as well as the international community” Deng Alor told reporters in Addis Abba today.

Last week it was reported that Sudan’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mutrif Siddiq rushed to Ethiopia to submit a last minute nomination for AU presidency.

However, foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit have still expressed reservations about Sudan’s plans to take over from Ghana, which currently holds the chair that rotates yearly among the AU’s 53 members.

Sudan has failed in its bid assume presidency of the AU for the years 2006 and 2007 after intense international pressure because of alleged human rights abuses by the Sudanese military in the Darfur region and a threat from Chad to withdraw if the nomination was endorsed by AU members.

(ST)