France’s position on Sudan issues is ‘fluctuating’: official

January 19, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today reiterated its criticism of France and urged it to pressure a rebel leader residing on its territory.

Describing France’s stance as ‘seesawing’ the Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq said that Paris should force rebel leader Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur to attend any upcoming peace talks.

“If France is not able to do that then they are not qualified to talk about anything relating to the Darfur crisis” Al-Sadiq said.

Relations between the two countries have been troubled over the presence of Al-Nur leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in France despite demands by Khartoum that he be expelled.

Al-Nur has been refusing to attend peace talks insisting that Khartoum honor a ceasefire and facilitate deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur.

The rebel leader has also rejected a Qatari mediation initiative to bring the Darfur warring parties together despite support by Paris.

“France’s positions keep fluctuating when dealing with Sudan probably they have no interest in resolving the problem of Darfur for certain interests and considerations they know” Al-Sadiq said.

“France doesn’t know what it is doing” he added.

Sudanese officials including president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir have been frequently criticizing France particularly after failing to convince the latter to support a suspension of charges made by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Al-Bashir has accused France of having a hidden agenda aiming at toppling his government.

In December French president Nicolas Sarkozy warned Al-Bashir that he has “little time” to take bold steps that brings peace to the war ravaged region of Darfur.

“Either he changes his attitude and the international community can hold discussions with him, or he does not change his attitude and will have to face up to his responsibilities, including before the International Criminal Court” Sarkozy said in an address to mark 60 years since the adoption of the UN rights declaration.

ICC judges are reviewing ten counts presented by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in mid-July that include three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder and accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

A decision is expected by the judges in the coming weeks, observers say.

(ST)