European Union deplores cancelation of Darfur civil society meeting
May 11, 2009 (BRUSSELS) — European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel regretted today the cancellation of the ’Mandate Darfur’ conference, for Darfur civil society.
The foundation of Mo Ibrahim, a British telecom tycoon of Sudanese origin, cancelled a conference for civil society figures from Darfur, saying the government was obstructing their arrangements for the conference in Ethiopia.
The conference scheduled for May 12-16 in Addis Ababa would have brought together some 300 representatives from across the region, the biggest ever assembly of the Darfurian civil society.
“I’m saddened that the organisers of the ’Mandate Darfur’ conference have felt obliged to cancel this event due to travel restrictions imposed on certain delegates by the Sudanese authorities,” said Michel in a statement issued on Monday.
He further said that the cancelled meeting had the potential to be a valuable and promising contribution to the efforts made by the international community to bring lasting peace to the region.
The initiative was supported by the African Union, the Arab League, the United Nations, the European Union and a wide spectrum of former African leaders. Members of the foundation’s Board are Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Lalla Ben Barka, Lord Cairns, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Mary Robinson, Salim Ahmed Salim and Nicholas Ulanov.
(ST)