Rwandan president says solving Darfur issue within AU framework

KHARTOUM, Feb 23, 2005 (Xinhua) — Visiting Rwandan President Paul Kagame said Wednesday that African problems must be solved by Africans.

He made the remarks when visiting Sudan’s western region of Darfur, where Rwanda contributed to an African Union (AU) force to observe a ceasefire agreement between Darfur rebels and the government.

“We are confident that the Sudanese people are capable of solving their problems by themselves,” Kagame said.

He said the participation of his country in AU forces in Darfur “confirms the concern of the Rwandan people to realize peace and stability in Sudan.”

On his part, Governor of Northern Darfur State Othman Mohammed Yousif Kibir said the Sudanese government would continue cooperation with the AU mission to facilitate its duty to provide security and stability in the region.

Rwanda has so far dispatched 392 officers and men as part of an AU protection force in Darfur. The force’s mandate is to protect AU ceasefire monitors.

The AU has deployed about 800 troops and 100 military observers of an expected 4,000-strong force to help monitor the ceasefire.

Darfur has been embroiled in conflict since February 2003 when rebel groups took up arms against Khartoum, accusing the government of neglecting the barren area.

The conflict has so far caused thousands of deaths and made over one million people flee to neighboring Chad or internally displaced.

The situation in the troubled region remains tense with both government forces and rebels reportedly preparing new offensive despite peace efforts.

Rounds of peace talks between the Sudanese government and two main rebel groups have to yield concrete results.

The Rwandan president arrived here Tuesday on a three-day visit to Sudan.