EU rapprochement with Khartoum does not serve peace in Sudan : PAX

June 7,2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Dutch charity Pax group said alarmed by the new European Union policy towards Sudanese government, pointing it was motivated by domestic pressures to stem migration into Europe but does not serve the cause of peace and human rights in Sudan.

“PAX is concerned that approaches that focus too heavily on building the capacities of an abusive regime and do not adequately address the urgent need to resolve the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Eastern Sudan through inclusive political dialogue are likely to do harm, including increase the numbers of irregular migrants from Sudan in the medium to long term,” said the advocacy group in a report released on Monday.

The report went further to express fears that the rapprochement with the Sudanese government includes a series of risks that are not addressed by the EU officials.

“Treating Sudan primarily as a transit country for refugees ignores the extensive role of the government in producing refugees and IDPs, not least through its brutal counter-insurgency attacks, through its exacerbation of the catastrophic humanitarian situation of refugees and IDPs, and through its repression of dissent,” said the report in reference to the armed conflicts in Darfur region and the Two Areas as well as the repeated violation of human rights by the security apparatus.

The Netherlands based group also said that Khartoum government is not credible and expressed doubts over Khartoum seriousness to honour its commitments saying it ” has not respected the undertakings made in successive peace processes” and switched easily regional alliances radically.

The report further claimed that Sudanese officials are involved in the illegal human trafficking stressing that working with the Sudanese security service risks to reinforce ‘ repressive and abusive agents and agencies”.

Last April The EU officially allocated Sudan 100 million Euro to improve the living conditions for refugees, help Sudanese returnees to reintegrate back into society, and to improve security at the border.

In addition to this support, Sudan benefits from additional funding under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, in particular from a €40 million programme to better manage migration in the region.

(ST)