Sudan reiterates refusal of transferring AU mission in Darfur to UN

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir reiterated on Tuesday rejection of transferring an AU peacekeeping mission in Sudan's western region of Darfur to the United Nations.

At a joint press conference with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki, al-Bashir equated the deployment of UN forces in Darfur under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force without consent of the country concerned, to colonization.

"Sending UN troops to Sudan under Chapter Seven will mean receiving colonizing forces in place of forces for maintaining security and stability," the Sudanese president stressed.

He said that a colonization agenda was hidden behind the current dispute on the issue, saying that "sending those forces appears now to become an objective in themselves rather than being a means for achieving security and stability in Darfur."

Al-Bashir wondered funding of the UN forces, which is estimated at billions of dollars, while the UN is unable to come up with 10, 000 troops deployed in southern Sudan to help implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) or provide food supply to refugees in Darfur.

He said that despite improving situation in Darfur as recognized by the UN, the African Union and humanitarian organizations, Sudan has kept on hearing reports of serious deterioration of the situation in Darfur and ethnic cleaning.

"This intensive campaign and marches and protests organized in the United States were actually headed by Jewish organizations with vested interests known to Sudan and its people," he said.

He said that Sudan, a UN member, should have been consulted and talked with on the world body's role before the UN considers to dispatch such troops.

He said that Sudan was keen to see the success of the AU in Darfur, as this was the first mission for the union in trying to resolve African problems.

Mbeki, for his part, voiced his country's support for Sudan with regard to strengthening the AU's role in Darfur, saying that the UN should get consent from the Sudanese government and the AU before making a decision on its role in the African country.

He said that his visit to Sudan was aimed at getting first-hand information about the latest developments in southern Sudan and Darfur, denying media report that his visit was to discuss a transition of the AU mandate in Darfur to the UN.

Mbeki also criticized international donors for not honoring their commitments to helping reconstruct post-war Sudan.

The South African president left Khartoum Tuesday evening after winding up a one-day official visit to Sudan.

Source: Xinhua