Sudan welcomes African ceasefire monitoring teams for Darfur

ADDIS ABABA, April 15, 2004 (SUNA) — Sudan has lauded the decision by the African Union’s Security and Peace Council on sending African monitoring teams to follow up implementation of the cease-fire agreement between the government and the armed groups in Darfur.

Sudan Ambassador to Addis Ababa and its envoy to the African Union Osman Al-Sayed said to SUNA that the Council affirmed in its meeting on Tuesday its support to Sudan in its endeavors for realizing peace and its support to the cease-fire agreement and release of the detainees and directed the offices of the African Union in Geneva and New York to convene meetings for the envoys and announce their support to Sudan in confronting the baseless claims alleging the existence of racial discrimination in Darfur.

He added that the Chairman of the African Union’s Security and Peace Council Saeed Genaid made contacts with Geneva during which he conveyed the stance of the African Union that considers Darfur issue concern the African Union and that the matter does not need international forces to monitor the cease-fire there.

He affirmed that the council will remain convened to monitor the situation and to speed up sending monitors from the African countries, which include Senegal, Nigeria and Togo.