AU calls on Sudan govt. for Unamid exit plan and new peace talks

The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in its 529th meeting on the situation in Darfur on 31 July, called on the AU, the UN and the Sudanese government to continue the process of formulating an appropriate exit strategy for Unamid.

in its report, the AUPSC “notes with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of Unamid’s mandate, particularly with respect to the protection of civilians”.

Yet, the Council also condemned “the continuing intermittent fighting between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur armed movements”.
In the report of the meeting, it expresses its “concern over the continued armed conflict in Darfur, which constitutes a threat to peace, not only in Sudan, but to the neighbouring countries, and stresses the need for parties to demonstrate renewed commitment towards, in order to facilitate the political process”.

The AUSPC also states its concern about the prevailing humanitarian situation in Darfur, including the significant increase in the number of displaced people. The Council therefore requests “all parties in Darfur to facilitate the work of the humanitarian agencies to ensure their security and guarantee unimpeded access to the populations in need, and appeals for renewed international efforts to mobilise additional resources and capacities to meet the humanitarian needs on the ground”.

According to the report, the Council agrees to undertake a field visit in Darfur, “to assess the situation on the ground with a view to take appropriate decisions that could further contribute towards enhancing the security and humanitarian situation”.

Peace talks

The AUPSC further states its full support to the efforts of the AUHIP and “commends its members, namely former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdelsalam Abubakar, and Pierre Buyoya, as well as the Support Team, for their persistent engagement with and support of the efforts of the Government and people of Sudan”.

Regarding the National Dialogue as proposed by President Al Bashir in January 2014, the AUSPC considers the dialogue “as an authentic, transparent, inclusive and fair process initiated and owned by the people of Sudan, in order to bring about lasting peace across Sudan”.

In the first week of August the chairman of the AUHIP, Thabo Mbeki, visited Khartoum to discuss merging the peace negotiations on the Two Areas (South Kordofan and the Blue Nile) and Darfur with a broad national dialogue to be convened in Addis Ababa.

During a press conference in Khartoum on 4 August, Mbeki said that the government adheres to its rejection of the merger as well as to hold the dialogue abroad. He will meet with leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front alliance of Sudanese rebel movements later this month.