African Union threats to punish Darfur rebels
Sudan-Regional, Politics, 11/23/2005

The African Union on Tuesday accused the rebels of Darfur implicitly of obstructing the resumption of peace negotiations. It threatens to impose sanctions against "any side" obstructing settling the current conflict in the district located in the west of Sudan.

A statement issued following a meeting of the Federation's security council said that the council intends to take appropriate measures, including sanctions against any side that undermines or constitute an obstacle before the peace process in Darfur.

The council called on the officials of the Sudan Liberation Movement, the main rebel movement in Darfur to shoulder great responsibility and not help perpetuate the sufferings of their people, and asked them to put their differences and personal ambitions aside, and concentrate on peace negotiations.

However, it was presumed that the 7th round of the negotiations on Darfur to have had started on Monday in Nigeria, but was postponed until undetermined date because of the differences of the Sudan's Liberation Movement.

Meantime, The head of the United Nations mission in Sudan said yesterday that he would go to western Darfur for talks with some leaders of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) in preparation for peace talks with the Government of Sudan, which are expected to start next Monday in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Many bilateral meetings have been taking place to ensure a smooth start to the seventh round of talks and to continue putting pressure on the rebels to adopt a constructive approach, including a meeting tomorrow in Muhajariya with SLM/A leader Mini Minawi, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Jan Pronk, told a news conference.

Pronk also pointed to the meeting of a United States delegation with Minawi and another SLM/A leader, Abdelwahid Nur, in Nairobi, Kenya, on 8 November. The US delegation and the two SLM/A leaders also met at the African Union (AU) premises in El Fasher on 19 November, he said, while he convened a meeting of Special Envoys in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on 12 November.

The African Union has been calling all sides to return back "immediately" and without conditions to Abuja in order to convene the 7th round of negotiations and to work so as the session will be "decisive and conducive to reaching a peace agreement."

Previous Stories:
  US: Sudan rebels gave commitment to be in negotiation talks   (11/22/2005)
  Sudan: senior UN envoy to meet with Darfur rebels on taking part in peace talks   (11/17/2005)
  African Union kidnapped soldiers released in Darfur   (10/10/2005)
  Moussa receives Sudanese FM   (9/8/2005)

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