Jan 23: According to news just in from SAPA/DPA, Sudan has said it was withdrawing its candidacy for the position of African Union (AU) chairman following protests by human rights groups and several African heads of state.
Jan 23 BBC confirms Sudan is prepared to drop its bid to chair the AU to avoid splits within the organisation, Sudan's presidential adviser has said.
"We don't want to make any cracks. If that means Sudan should withdraw, we will," Mustafa Osman Ismail said, as AU leaders met at a summit in Khartoum.
Photo: The Chairman of the AU, President Olusegun Obasanjo, right, in a jovial mood as he jokes with, from left, Omar Bongo President of Gabon, Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa and President of Comoros Azail Assoumani, second right after the opening of the summit. (AP/ST Sudan offers to withdraw its bid to head AU)
Peace talks between parties to the conflict in Darfur ground to a halt today as rebel delegations withdrew to await the result of President al-Bashir's bid to win the chairmanship of the AU.
Photo (AP/Sayyid Azim): Chairman of the AU, Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo (L) with President of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir, after the opening of the summit in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2006.
The chairmanship of the AU traditionally goes to the country hosting the summit. That would make the next chairman Sudanese President el-Bashir, a military coup leader accused of fueling the conflict in Darfur that has killed some 400,000 people in three years, displaced 2 million and spilled over into neighboring Chad.
Photo: South African President Thabo Mbeki attends the official opening of the summit. Five African leaders have asked Sudan to withdraw its bid to head the AU because the appointment could sink Darfur peace talks and dent the group's credibility. (Reuters/Antony Njuguna)
Photo: Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso listens to the official opening of the summit. Sudan, which is under fire for rights abuses, wants to succeed Nigeria at the two-day summit. (Reuters/Antony Njuguna/Yahoo)
Photo: Sudan's vice president Salva Kiir Mayardit (L) chats with Libyan president Mohammed Gadafi during the official opening of the summit. (Reuters/Antony Njuguna)
UN Humanitarian Intervention in Darfur: Prospect or Posturing?
Note Eric Reeves' latest analysis January 21, 2006. [via Coalition for Darfur - US Works to Delete Senior Members of NIF From Sanctions List]
Hi Ingrid,
ReplyDeleteFortunately (Thank God!!) Sudan's bid for the Presidency of the AU was soundly rejected and defeated at the Kharoum Summit. Following is my comment at Brian's blog (Black Star Journal) re: this important subject. I thought that you may want to read it:
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Fortunately those new "spine cells" growing at the AU you spoke about in an earlier post seem to be working, albeit just barely. It didn't happen, Sudan's bid for the Presidency was shut down. "Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguessou has now taken over the chair of the Khartoum summit." (BBC News Jan 24, 2006 10:20 GMT)
I wonder how much of the international pressure applied at this AU Summit can be attributed to the efforts of global bloggers who write tirelessly about Darfur and Sudan? The MSM had pitifully little information about this year's AU Summit and news sources like Xinhua (China) and other MSM news agencies never made a mention of the absurdity of Sudan's bid for the leadership. Nothing, Nada.
Another big question in my mind is which countries (North and East Africa) supported Omar al-Bashir's bid for the Presidency and which countries were against? Any clues or is that internal business of the African Union? In other words, which African leaders and governments are actively fighting against the genocide taking place in Darfur and which ones don't give a damn and/or are afraid to speakout against the Khartoum Regime and the Arab League???
Thanks Bill. I started lbogging the countries supporting/not supporting Sudan's hopes for AU chair.
ReplyDeleteNews reports say more than 30 African leaders attended the AU summit and 40 'graceful' villas were built to house delegates for the 48 hours.
It would be interesting to compile a list of supporters. My contribution to the list are the countries mentioned in the last month of postings. Hope you have time to start a list. I'll help do a few searches if you like. I'd be happy to name and shame them. It's time they started thinking for themselves and not voting en bloc.
It's interesting what you say about the African countries supporting Sudan to lead Africa. I never cease to be amazed by African bloggers who nothing to say on the Sudan - not to mention the Arabs and all the Muslims ...