AUPSC team arrives in Sudan to assess security and humanitarian situation in Darfur
August 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday on a 3-day visit during which it would assess the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur.
Nafie said the visit comes within the framework of promoting Sudan’s ties with regional and international organizations. He further pointed it represent a good opportunity to learn about the reality of the situation in the country.
He said the delegation would discuss with government officials the situation in Darfur, besides efforts to achieve peace and stability. Also, he indicated that the delegation will visit North Darfur state to assess the situation on the ground.
The ambassador expressed hope that the visit would achieve positive outcome that enhances Sudan’s cooperation with the regional and international communities.
The AUPSC team is expected to meet with Sudan’s foreign minister, head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), head of Darfur peace implementation follow-up office, rapporteur of Sudan’s Advisory Council for Human Rights (ACHR) and the humanitarian aid commissioner.
The delegation would then travel on Friday to Darfur and it will meet with the first vice-president, Bakri Hassan Salih at the conclusion of the visit on Saturday.
In a meeting held on 31 July, the AUPSC decided to hold a field visit to Darfur to assess the situation on the ground in order to make the appropriate decisions to enhance the security and humanitarian situation and promote reconciliation and dialogue efforts in the restive region.
It had earlier been announced that the delegation would discuss with government officials several joint issues pertaining to the exit strategy of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
In a statement issued following its latest meeting last July, the AUPSC expressed concern over the continuation of the armed conflict in Darfur, saying it doesn’t only undermine peace in Sudan but also in the neighbouring countries.
It emphasized the need to renew commitment by all parties to facilitate the political process, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Darfur and calling upon all parties to allow aid group to access needy population in the region.
It is worth noting that AUPSC dossiers on Sudan include also Abyei issue and the outstanding issues of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) besides the peace in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Ali al-Sadiq, said the AUPSC delegates denied recent statements attributed to them on the deterioration of the situation in Darfur.
According to al-Sadiq, the team members said those statements were based on a report issued by the UNMAID.
The spokesperson pointed the team is free to visit any area or Internally Displaced Persons camp in Darfur.
He further reported that the foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, had briefed the AUPSC members and senior officials on the developments in the situation in Darfur and government efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.
The Sudanese diplomat added that Ghandour renewed to the delegation the government keenness to achieve peace, pointing to rebel groups’ intransigence and refusal for peace.
He added that Ghandour also reminded the delegation that the international community hasn’t honoured its previous commitments to punish the rebel groups that refuse to sign the peace deal.
According to Sadiq, Ghandour also discussed with the visiting team the UNAMID exit strategy from Darfur, stressing the government relies heavily on the Africans in the exit of the mission which must be agreed upon by all concerned parties.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, for her part, said the visit of the AUSPC teams aims to get first hand information and assess the situation in Darfur on the ground.
She renewed support for the government efforts to achieve national reconciliation and peace in the region.
(ST)