African Union under pressure over Sudan

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African Union under pressure over Sudan
Darfur 'shows regime is unfit for chairmanship'
· Result would jeopardise peacekeeping, letter says

Andrew Meldrum in Pretoria
Monday January 16, 2006
The Guardian

More than 40 African non-governmental organisations have launched a bid to prevent Sudan from becoming the next chairman of the African Union, claiming the move would jeopardise peacekeeping operations in the country's troubled Darfur region.

The Guardian has obtained copies of an appeal sent to African heads of state yesterday saying that Sudan's chairmanship could dash hopes of resolving the crisis, in which an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and two million driven from their homes.

The African Union currently has a peacekeeping force of 6,000 struggling to restore peace and end widespread killings and atrocities in the region in western Sudan. A larger United Nations force of up to 20,000 is being urged by UN experts.

The AU is expected to vote on the chairmanship at a summit meeting to be held in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, next Monday. Traditionally the leadership is assumed by the country that heads the summit meeting, and Sudan's government is lobbying hard to secure the position.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,14658,1687111,00.html