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The Darfur Consortium An African and International |
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Contact: Olivia Bueno at +1 212 377 2700 ext 416 AU Takes a Small Step Forward on Darfur, (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. |
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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