AU retains final say to settle disputes over Sudan security protocol

KHARTOUM, Nov 11, 2004 (Xinhua) — A Sudanese official affirmed here Thursday that the security protocol between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels stipulates that the African Union (AU) would have the final say to settle any dispute over the protocol.

Magzoub El-Khalifa Ahmed, head of the Sudanese government’s delegation to the Abuja talks with Darfur rebels).

“This protocol demands the AU be empowered to monitor,” Magzoub El-Khalifa Ahmed, head of the Sudanese government’s delegation to the Abuja negotiations, told a press conference.

“The protocol recommends that a joint committee, which includes representatives from the AU and the conflicting parties, would meet on the ground every two weeks and a high committee would meet once a month to put the N’djamena agreement and the security protocol in action,” added Magzoub.

On the humanitarian protocol, Magzoub said the two sides agreed to form a joint mechanism which included the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels as well as the United Nations and donors.

The Sudanese government and two Darfur rebel groups signed security and humanitarian protocols Wednesday in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The subscription of the two protocols were sponsored by Nigerian President Olusagun Obasanjo, whose country was currently holding the rotating presidency of AU.