African Union appoints special envoy for Sudan’s CPA
February 23, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, on Friday, February 15 appointed the Nigerian diplomat Oluyemi Adeniji, as his Special Envoy for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Sudanese government and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed in Nairobi , on January 9, 2005, a peace agreement ending 21 years of civil war in the country. the AU supported the negotiation process that led to the signing of the CPA.
This move is a follow-up to the decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) of 24 August and November 2007, which requested the commission to take all necessary steps to fully support the implementation of the CPA, including the appointment of Special Envoy, AU said.
Ambassador Adeniji was Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Interior, respectively from, 2003 to 2007. During his diplomatic career, he also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to several countries.
Furthermore, from 1988 to 2002, he successfully, served as the Special Representative of UN Secretary General in the Central African Republic and Sierra Leone.
In his capacity as Special Envoy, Ambassador Adeniji will work closely with the Government of National Unity (GONU) and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), as well as with relevant members of the international community, to ensure that the AU fully accompany the parties in their efforts towards the successful implementation of the CPA and the promotion of lasting peace and reconciliation in the Sudan, the AU said.
In addition, and in pursuance of the above-mentioned PSC decisions, the Commission has taken steps to establish an AU Liaison Office in Khartoum, with an office in Juba, to ensure the day to day follow up of the implementation of the CPA and AU’s effective participation in the various organs provided for under the agreement.
Following transfer of authority from its mission (AMIS) in Sudan to the hybrid operation UNAMID, the African Union has opened an AU Liaison Office in Sudan in February 2008.
The AU Office shall be based in Khartoum and Juba. Temporarily it will be headed by Boitshoko Mokgatlhe, Senior Political Officer and Officer-in-Charge, pending the arrival of Ambassador Mahmoud Kane, former Head of the Darfur Integrated Task Force (DITF), who has been appointed Head of the new AU Liaison Office in Sudan.
(ST)