Contact: Olivia Bueno at +1 212 377 2700 ext 416
AU Takes a Small Step Forward on Darfur,
Negotiations on UN Assistance must Continue
(NEW YORK, September 25, 2023) - In a statement issued in New York today, the Darfur Consortium welcomed the decisions of the African Union (AU) to extend the mandate of the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the end of the year and of the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), now deployed in the south of the country, by two weeks.
Alioune Tine, a founding member of the Consortium and President of Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO), who was in New York to monitor progress of the deliberations, cautioned, however, that these decisions constituted only a brief reprieve and that much more remained to be done. “Darfurians will be relieved that the African forces on the ground are remaining to do what they can,” said Mr. Tine “but it is clear that in their current configuration they simply cannot effectively protect.”
“While it is encouraging to hear that the Arab League has pledged funding and that the UN will offer support, international donors must also increase their assistance. On the part of the AU, the extension of the AMIS mandate must now be accompanied by an increase in troop numbers and the adoption of a new concept of operations. AMIS must be equipped to at least attempt to fulfill its responsibilities under the Darfur Peace Agreement.”
Planning for the transformation to a UN force must also continue. “African states have already recognized that a United Nations force is the only way to effectively protect civilians in Darfur,” said Mr. Tine.
“The decision at this Friday’s Security Council meeting to agree only a short term technical mandate extension to UNMIS is an indication that the members of the Security Council are seeking to keep the transformation to a UN force high on the international agenda. African states need to reassert their role in these discussions and push strongly for the UN transition they have been seeking since March of this year.”
The Darfur Consortium represents over forty Africa-based and Africa-focused civil society organisations working together to promote a just, peaceful and sustainable end to the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur.
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Member Organizations:
Action Professionals Association for the People
Aegis Trust Rwanda
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
African Center for Development
African Society of International and Comparative Law
African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
The Ahueni Foundation
Alliances for Africa
Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies
Andalus Institute for Tolerance
Anti-Slavery International
Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)
Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)
Citizens for Global Solutions
Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie
Darfur Alert Coalition
Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development
Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)
Femmes Africa Solidarité
Human Rights Centre, University of Pretoria
Human Rights First
Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa
Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)
Interights
International Commission of Jurists
International Refugee Rights Initiative
Justice Africa
Justice and Peace Commission
Lawyers for Human Rights
Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections
Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria
Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme
Minority Rights Group
National Association of Seadogs
Open Society Justice Initiative
Pan-African Movement
People Against Injustice (PAIN)
Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)
Sudan Organization Against Torture
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Sudanese Refugee Association in South Africa
Syrian Organization for Human Rights
Universal Human Rights Network
WARIPNET
World Organization Against Torture
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