Darfur Consortium: Action: Press Releases

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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.

1 TOGO SANS ETHNIES

Action Professionals Association for the People

Aegis Trust Rwanda

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies

African Center for Development

African Center for Justice and Peace Studies

Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)

African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR)

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 Coalition for Darfur

Arab Program for Human Rights Activists

Association Africaine de Defense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)

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

Conscience International

Conseil National Pour les Libertés en Tunisie

Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC)

Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development

Darfur Leaders Network (DLN)

Darfur Reconciliation and Development Organization (DRDO)

Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre

East Africa Law Society

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Femmes Africa Solidarité

La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)

Forum of African Affairs (FOAA)

Human Rights First

Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa

Institute for Security Studies

Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)

Interights

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)

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

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Minority Rights Group

National Association of Seadogs

Never Again International

Open Society Justice Initiative

Pan-African Movement

Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)

Sierra Leone STAND Chapter

Sisters' Arabic Forum for Human Rights (SAF)

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT)

Syrian Organization for Human Rights

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Universal Human Rights Network

WARIPNET

Women Initiative Nigeria (WIN)