Former UK Ambassador to Sudan appointed as EU special representative

August 6, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The former UK Ambassador to Sudan, Dame Rosalind Marsden, will become the European Union’s Special Representative to the country on September 1.

Marsden who served as UK Ambassador until May this year will replace Denmark’s Torben Brylle who took up the post in 2007.

The career diplomat, who is the first women to hold the role of EU special representative, was appointed by Baroness Catherine Ashton the EU’s foreign policy chief.

During Sudanese President Omer Hassan al Bashir’s recent visit to Chad Ashton urged Sudan’s western neighbour to hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague.

On July 12 the ICC added three acts of genocide to Bashir’s 2008 indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his government’s response to the insurgency in the western region of Darfur, which began in 2003.

According to the EU, Marsden’s brief will be to aid peace efforts in Darfur and help preparations for the southern referendum on secession due to take place in January, 2011.

The UK Governments minister for Africa Henry Bellingham who visited Sudan in July said of Marsden’s appointment:

“I want to send my warm congratulations to Dame Rosalind Marsden on her appointment as EU Special Representative for Sudan. Now is a critical time for Sudan with the Referenda on Southern independence and the status of Abyei less than six months away and with ongoing concerns about the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur. Rosalind will bring direct experience to her new role following her time as British Ambassador to Sudan over the last three years. I am delighted that we have someone of Rosalind’s experience to lead the EU’s work on Sudan and we look forward to working with her in her new role.”

Mr. Nicholas Kay replaced Marsden as the UK Ambassador in to Sudan in May.

(ST)