Contact: Dismas Nkunda (in Banjul) +220-70-190-073
(in Kampala) +256-78-310-404
Darfur Consortium Calls on African States not to Pass AU presidency to Sudan
(BANJUL, November 25, 2022) The Darfur Consortium, a coalition of more than 30 Africa-based and Africa-focused NGOs committed to working for a sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis in Darfur, joined other civil society groups in calling on member states of the Africa Union to reconsider their decision to confer the Presidency of the African Union to Sudan in January.
In a letter issued on the occasion of the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Banjul, The Gambia, the coalition pointed out that the government of Sudan has borne responsibility for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Darfur and that the situation in Darfur remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
“Conferring the honor of hosting this summit on the Sudanese government under these circumstances would undermine the credibility of the AU,” said Dismas Nkunda, a spokesman of the Darfur Consortium.
Further, the coalition urged African states to oppose the Sudanese bid for the AU Presidency, which will be decided by a final vote at the next Summit. The letter argues that handing over the Presidency to Sudan could put the future of the ongoing Abuja peace talks in serious jeopardy.
The AU Presidency has been playing a key role in steering the talks under the Chairmanship of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja. The Sudanese government, as a party to the conflict, is unable to credibly play such a role. Without competent mediation, the entire peace negotiations might collapse.
Read the full open letter to AU Member States
ENDS
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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
Makumira University College, Tumaini University
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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