AU blames mistrust for continued conflict in Sudan’s Darfur

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Apr 29, 2005 (PANA) — The situation remains volatile and
unpredictable in Western Sudan’s Darfur region due to mistrust between
belligerents in the troubled area, says an African Union (AU) report
issued here Thursday.

Displaced Sudanese women carry buckets of drinking water in Abu Shouk Camp on the outskirts of the northern Darfur region of El-Fasher.(AFP).

In a report to the AU Peace and Security Council, whose session opened in
Addis Ababa Thursday, AU chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said “deep
distrust” between the warring parties, the population and government
forces was impeding the search for a solution to the conflict, which
erupted in February 2003.

Konare told the AU Council that the population lacked confidence in
government security organs in Darfur, especially the Sudanese police,
because they are inter-twinned with the Arab “Janjaweed” militia.

In his report, Konare insisted on the need to strengthen the African
Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) and appealed to Sudanese authorities to
urgently, fully fulfil their commitments under the April 2004 N’djamena
and the Abuja protocol.

He particularly urged Khartoum to disarm and neutralise the Janjaweed,
apprehend and bring its leadership to face justice together with those
found guilty of violating human rights and international humanitarian
law.

Experience has shown that the security situation would continue to be
gloomy in Darfur unless concrete action was taken in this respect, Konare
warned.

Meanwhile, the AU chairperson appealed to the conflicting parties in
Darfur to show political commitment to reach a peace agreement.

He reiterated the call by the Assembly of the African Union, which
encouraged all leaders and stakeholders who have been supporting the
Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur to continue doing so under the
overall leadership of the continental body.

More than two years ago, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) took up arms against the Sudanese
government to press for an equitable allocation of resources to their
neglected remote region.

Khartoum’s government forces fought back and enlisted the Arab
“Janjaweed” militiamen who have driven thousands of black Africans from
Darfur villages to other parts of Sudan, or across the border into Chad.