African Union peace and Security Council in Sudan next week

November 20, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Sudanese embassy in Addis Ababa announced today that the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) will start a visit to Khartoum on Monday.

The plenipotentiary minister at the embassy Anas Al-Tayib Al-Gailani described the visit to state media as an “unprecedented initiative”.

Al-Gailani said that it is an acknowledgement of the improving situation in the war ravaged region of Darfur and the return of IDP’s and refugees to their homes.

The Sudanese official disclosed that the PSC will hold a meeting in Khartoum and North Darfur capital of El-Fasher to inspect the UNAMID peacekeepers and NGOs.

The PSC will also visit Juba to review the development in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The Sudanese official emphasized the leading role his country plays in the AU and the predecessor Organization of African Unity (OAU) to bring peace and stability to the continent.

The last meeting by PSC held last month in Abuja endorsed the report compiled by the AU high level panel on Darfur (AUPD) to create a roadmap for resolving the conflict.

The panel was headed by former South African president Thabo Mbeki who is also the head of the implementation mechanism.

(ST)