NATO TV Channel: AU to develop co-operation with NATO

A GROUP of high level officials from the African Union (AU) visited NATO’s Headquarters and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium on Thursday and Friday.

NATO and the AU have developed an increasingly fruitful practical cooperation since 2005. NATO supported the AU Mission in Sudan and is currently assisting the AU mission in Somalia in terms of air- and sea-lift, but also planning support.

NATO is also providing training opportunities and capacity building support to the AU’s long term peacekeeping capabilities, in particular the African Standby Force. This reflects the shared objective of bringing security and stability to Africa, added the statement.

Full report here below.

AFRICAN UNION TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH NATO
(NNN-KUNA) via NAM News Network, Saturday, 20 February 2010:

BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (NNN-KUNA) — A group of high level officials from the African Union (AU) led by Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, head of the Peace Support Operations Division of the AU, visited NATO’s Headquarters and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium on Thursday and Friday.

“Our visit here is to take forward some discussions that we had with NATO on how to improve the African Unions ability to provide better management support to peace missions,” Bam told the NATO TV channel.

On its part, the 28-member Alliance said in a statement Friday night that the visit provided a good opportunity for an open and constructive dialogue on a variety of issues, particularly NATO’s role in the new security environment and the further development of practical cooperation between NATO and the AU.

NATO and the AU have developed an increasingly fruitful practical cooperation since 2005. NATO supported the AU Mission in Sudan and is currently assisting the AU mission in Somalia in terms of air- and sea-lift, but also planning support.

NATO is also providing training opportunities and capacity building support to the AU’s long term peacekeeping capabilities, in particular the African Standby Force.

This reflects the shared objective of bringing security and stability to Africa, added the statement. — NNN-KUNA

AU's Peace and Security Council on fact-finding mission to Sudan

Untitled report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The African Union Peace and Security Council began a fact-finding mission to Sudan on Monday to learn more about the current situation in country.

Sudan Radio Service spoke to the UNAMID spokesman, Noureddine Mezni, on Monday. He explained the purpose of the visit.

[Noureddine Mezni]: “The African Union Peace and Security Council started a field visit to Sudan on Monday, and this is the first time that the council, which comprises 15 member countries, has organized a field visit out of its headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The aim of the visit is to directly witness the issues on the ground in Sudan and the latest developments; because the council gives a high importance to the situation in Sudan. Beside the visit to Khartoum, the delegation will also visit Darfur, specifically El-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, to meet with the leadership of UNAMID, and the local authorities. After El-Fashir, the delegation will visit Juba, before returning to its headquarters in Addis Ababa.”

Noureddine Mezni was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum on Monday.

AU's Peace and Security Council will not discuss AUPD report during visit to Sudan

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The Government of National Unity says that the AU’s Peace and Security Council will not to discuss the AU panel report on Darfur during its visit to Sudan.

Last month, the AUPSC held a meeting in Abuja to launch the AU panel report, which recommends the formation of hybrid courts in Darfur in a bid to achieve justice and reconciliation in the region.

The advisor to the Minister of Information in GONU, Dr. Rabie Abdulaati, told Sudan Radio Service on Monday that the AUPSC has no mandate to discuss the details of the AU panel report.

[Dr. Rabie Abdulaati]: “When Thabo Mbeki’s report was launched by the AUPSC last month, committees that were formed to implement the report, taking into consideration the comments of the Sudanese government. So I don’t think that this council is going to discuss this report now because it already discussed it earlier. And I don’t think it is the mandate of the AUPSC to discuss these details, because they have already referred this issue to the concerned bodies in the council.”

Dr. Rabie Abdulaati was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Monday from Khartoum.

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AU is calling for implementation of recommendations of AUPD report

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 24, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The African Union says it is calling for the implementation of the recommendations of the Mbeki report on the Darfur conflict.

Joseph Nsenjemana, Rwandan’s Ambassador to the AU, who is currently chairing the Peace and Security Council, told a press conference on Monday in Khartoum that the main purpose of visiting Sudan was to push for the implementation of the report.

[Joseph Nsenjemana]: “The peace and security council has taken the next step to see for themselves what is happening on the ground. I think we are conscious that it is a process. The recommendation is a good thing and the implementation is another one. It is the reason why we wanted to see the situation on the ground and to push it forward where necessary.”

Ambassador Nsenjemana will be visiting IDP camps in North Darfur on Tuesday and Wednesday.