Stakeholders in the
Sudanese crisis were
yesterday in Abuja, unanimous in their support for an African solution to the problems in Darfur even as AU chairman, President Olusegun Obasanjo, called for a quick resolution of the crisis to avert intervention by foreign powers.
Representatives of the Arab League, Dr Amr Mou-ssa, gave kudos to the Afri-can Union for initiating moves to resolve the Darfur crisis, saying the league is totally behind the AU.
“Africa is now leading efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur. We (Arab League), have unanimously resolved to support AU and be part of the effort to reach a concl-usion and preserve unity and oneness of Sudan. Solution to the crisis can only be fou-nd by Africans. That is why the Arab League supports it. We shall cooperate and work together with Africa, because we believe Africans will deal with their problems,” he said.
Representative of the United Nations Secretary said while solutions should be urgently sought to the humanitarian problems in Darfur, “we must find ways to resolve the issue through renegotiating in good faith, paving way for peace.”
He said the resolution on Sudan provides for disarmament, provision of security and a just and equitable solution to the crisis. He urged all parties concerned to resolve the crises in order to reduce the sufferings of displaced persons.
African Union Commission chairperson, former Malian President, Omar Alphar Konare, said the commission is interested in genuine resolution of the crises.
He traced the genesis of the crisis to what he called neglect, non-participation of people in governance and accumulated social pro-blems.
There is urgent need he said, for a lasting political solution to the crisis acce-ptable to all parties.
He stressed the need for democratisation in the Sudan, adding that the AU is ready to support in this direction.
Other participants atten-ding the meeting include Congolese President, Dennis Sasou Nguesso and the representative of the Libyan president, Dr Ali Traki, who said, “Africa must resolve the crisis to avoid foreign interv-ention which is very dang-erous”, adding that “Libya is ready to offer help with other international organisations and with the help of the government of Sudan.”
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo stressed the need for urgency in the resolution of the crisis.
“We need to act quickly especially in the light of UN Security Council resolution No. 1556 of July 20th 2004, which embodies the concerns and the impatience of the international community on the humanitarian situation in Darfur.
“Besides the intern-ational concern however, let us bear in mind the sufferings of the masses of women and parents, children as well as of the refugees and internally displaced persons. Let us remember the massive destruction of villages, dislocations and the huge cost in men and materials,” he said.
He warned that Africa must not allow itself to continue being regarded as the problem child of the world known for the pitiable pict-ures shown around the world of miserable looking maln-ourished children and wo-men.
He urged the stakeh-olders to embrace dialogue, stressing: “Even after the wars, people must still come to a round table and talk. So why do we have to first take the path of self destruction?”
He warned that though the world was anxiously waiting for Africa to act, the waiting cannot be indefinite.
“The crisis in Darfur is grave, the eyes of the world are on the region and on the efforts we are making on peace such as this. The international community is indeed waiting to see what will emanate from the Abuja peace talks. The wait cannot be indefinite, in the face of the sufferings of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Darfur. We cannot afford to fail in restoring peace and security to the region, let us not shame and disappoint our people, let us not shame humanity,” he warned.
The general co-ordinator of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Abu Bakr Hamid Nur, criticised the Sudanese government of lack of seriousness for sen-ding agriculture minister, Majdoa El-Khalifa, as its representative to the Abuja peace talks.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust yesterday at the venue of the peace talks, the rebel leader said that the presence of the agriculture minister has further demon-strated that the Sudanese government was not really interested in peace, even as he said that el-Khalifa lacks the credentials to stand between the government and the rebel groups.
He said a permanent peace was only possible if the government meets their demands which include: regional freedom, a federal system of government and equitable distribution of wealth and authority.
Meanwhile, reports indic-ated that more than 50,000 people have been killed and over one million people have been forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting. The International Red Cross, however said that later this week it will begin its largest airborne operations since the 2003 war in Iraq to deliver supplies to Darfur.
As the Abuja peace talks continued, the UK foreign secretary, Jack Straw, was flying to Sudan to press the government to do more to end the violence. He is also expected to travel to Darfur on Tuesday.
He said it is only five percent from the north that controls power in Sudan, adding that the remaining 95 percent are marginalised.
He said although the government of Sudan, proclaimed to have stopped supporting the Janjaweed militia, but that it recruits them as relief agents to further cause more harm to the civilians indirectly.
He said the rebel groups were not ready to disarm unless a permanent peace and genuine commitment by the government is assured.
Present at the peace talks are: the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLM/A), the United Nations, and the Arabs league, Libya, Congo, Uganda, Chad as well as members of the diplomatic corps.
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