09/15/2006

CONTACT: Megan Fowler
ri@refugeesinternational.org; 202-828-0110

Statement by Ken Bacon, President of Refugees International, Regarding the September 18 meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council

As the situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate with each passing day, Refugees International calls on the African Union Peace and Security Council to extend the mandate of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to protect the people of Darfur. Despite the challenges that AMIS continues to face, it is currently the only force on the ground standing between the civilian population and their attackers – the Sudanese armed forces, rebels and militias.

In addition to extending AMIS’ mandate until a UN force is deployed, the Peace and Security Council must authorize a stronger mandate so that the force can more effectively protect civilians. The United States and the international community must also show its commitment to bringing peace to Darfur and ensure that the AU force has the funds it needs to do its job. As a starting point, the U.S. Congress should ensure that an additional $20 million to support AMIS is not cut out of the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act.

The mandate of AMIS is set to expire on September 30. On August 31, the UN Security Council invited the Government of Sudan to consent to the deployment of a UN force that would replace AMIS. The Peace and Security Council should reiterate its support for a transition to a UN peacekeeping force and heed Secretary-General Annan’s call to pressure the Government of Sudan to accept this transition. The Government of Sudan has been extremely vocal in its opposition to UN peacekeepers in Darfur, and it is unlikely that a UN force will deploy in the near future.

Throughout its deployment, AMIS has been chronically under-resourced, ill-equipped, and without a robust mandate to protect civilians. For these reasons, it has struggled to protect the people of Darfur effectively. However, AMIS is currently the only force on the ground providing even a modicum of protection. Further, commanders of the only rebel group to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement reportedly have said they will resume fighting if the African Union force leaves.

In August, the Government of Sudan began implementing its plan to “restore security” in Darfur and recently deployed thousands of its own troops to launch a new offensive in North Darfur, including aerial bombing, which has displaced even more civilians. The Peace and Security Council must unequivocally condemn the Government of Sudan’s plan on the grounds that these troops are intensifying attacks against civilians. Government of Sudan troops have repeatedly committed large-scale atrocities against the civilian population, and additional troops are a clear threat to the people of Darfur. Refugees International condemns the Government of Sudan’s Plan for Darfur and its efforts to hinder the African Union’s efforts to bring peace to Darfur and calls on the Government to immediately cease its troop deployments there.

The African Union has been on the forefront in bringing about an end to the conflict in Darfur through its facilitation in Abuja and its deployment of troops in Darfur. The Peace and Security Council must commit to extending the mandate of AMIS beyond September 30 and strengthening its mandate. As part of its responsibility, the international community must support the African Union. The lives of hundreds of thousands of Darfuri civilians are at stake.

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