France says Africa should take lead in ending Darfur violence

PRETORIA, South Africa, July 28, 2004 (AP) — French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Wednesday the African Union should take the lead in efforts to end the bloodshed in Sudan ‘s western Darfur region, but that France stands ready to help.

“I believe that the African union has both the capability and the willingness to manage this crisis among Africans,” Barnier said after visiting Darfur on Tuesday. “We encourage, we support African leaders to take responsibility, and we are ready to help them.”

Barnier’s comments on a stop in South Africa came after the Sudanese government threatened retaliation Tuesday against any foreign troops sent to restore security in the region, which is facing what U.N. officials have called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

While no Western power has said it favors deploying troops in Darfur, such a military option has been touted since it became clear the Khartoum government was failing to curb the violence that began in February 2003 when two rebel groups from the region’s African tribes took up arms in a struggle over land and resources with Arab countrymen.

Pro-government militias drawn mostly from nomadic Arab tribes then began a brutal campaign to drive black African farming communities out of Darfur.

The U.N. estimates up to 30,000 people have been killed in Darfur, more than a million driven from their homes, and some 2.2 million left in urgent need of food and other aid. The U.S. Congress has labeled the atrocities genocide.

The European Union, the U.S. and humanitarian groups accuse the Sudanese government of backing the militias known as the Janjaweed with vehicles, helicopters and airplanes -a claim Khartoum denies.

The U.S. and the E.U. are pushing for U.N. sanctions against Sudan if the government doesn’t implement a July 3 promise to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to disarm the Janjaweed, improve security in Darfur and provide better access for relief organizations.

Barnier said the threat of sanctions could be a “useful tool,” but that pressure needs to be maintained on all sides in the conflict.

“Furthermore, we won’t resolve this crisis, we won’t avoid a humanitarian disaster in Darfur without Sudan , and still less against Sudan ,” Barnier said.

So far, only the African Union has committed troops to Darfur. The 300-strong force, which has Sudan ‘s blessing, is being sent to protect a small observer mission.

French forces stationed in neighboring Chad are assisting in relief efforts for the more than 200,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled there, Barnier said.

Barnier said France will also be making aircraft available to bring food to thousands of people inside Darfur cut off from aid since the start of the rainy season.

The EU has contributed some $249 million in aid to Darfur, of which $30 million came from France.

Barnier flew to South Africa on Wednesday for talks with President Thabo Mbeki and Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma about the violence in Darfur and other conflicts plaguing the continent.

The meeting came the day before Mbeki was expected in Ghana for a summit on the struggling peace process in Ivory Coast, a former French colony.

While in Pretoria, Barnier met with his Rwandan counterpart, Charles Murigande, who was also visiting South Africa.

Barnier’s African tour also included stops in Senegal and Chad.