Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides)- The situation in Darfur has reached a crucial crossroads for restoring peace, secretary general of the United Nations Organisation Ban Ki-moon said in a report made public yesterday 7 November in New York. Ban Ki-Moon said the recent talks in Libya between representatives of the Sudanese government and some rebel groups operating in Darfur (see Fides 24/10/2007) were an opportunity to be taken by all parties. In the report he also mentioned obstacles to the deployment in Darfur of a joint UN/AU peace keeping force which should replace the AU contingent by the end of the year.
Ban Ki-moon said uncertain security conditions prevent activity of humanitarian organisations on the area. He also admits the difficulty of finding countries will to send 24 transport and fighter helicopters to support the 26,000 new peace keepers, called to operate in a vast area, about 500,000sq km. “Without helicopters and mission will not be able to put its mandate into practice ” the General Secretary said in his report.
The UN resolution sanctioned a mixed peacekeeping force for Darfur mainly of African troops. This is a concession to Khartoum's objection to having western troops on its territory. South Africa has said it is willing to send helicopters and means of land transport to assist the peace mission. This was announced by South African president Thabo Mbeki, during a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Hassan el-Bashir, who is visiting South Africa.
The two leaders appealed to dissident Darfur groups not present at the meeting in Libya to come to the negotiating table. South Africa, which already has 700 men in the AU peace keeping mission in Darfur, and whose army is one of the few in Africa with the necessary means has decided to take a leading role in the field of logistics.
The president of South Africa welcomed the decision taken by the leaders of northern and southern Sudan to adopt a three month programme to solve disputes over which the 2005 peace agreement went into crisis. The representatives of S. Sudan walked out of the national unity government to protest the delay in implementation of major points of the peace agreement (see Fides 12 and 18 October 2007).
The president of the autonomous administration of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on a visit to Washington, said the S. Sudan members of the coalition government will not resume their functions until their requests presented to President Bashir are satisfied. President Salva Kiir Mayardit said every point of the agreement must be applied especially the withdrawal of northern Sudan troops from the oil rich disputed region of Abyei, which still has no administration. The people are assisted by the Churches which offer an indispensable substitute service besides their own pastoral care, local missionaries told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2007 righe 41 parole 585)
