Annan ‘hopeful’ of persuading Sudanese authorities to accept UN force in Darfur

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today voiced hope that the world body would be able to convince Sudan’s authorities to accept a UN peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Darfur, saying not only is it needed to implement a recently signed peace agreement but also to provide security to the internally displaced, estimated to number more than 2 million.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Mr. Annan said that talks with the Sudanese authorities were continuing and he sought to allay the fears expressed recently by Sudan President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir when he rejected any UN presence as reimposing colonial rule.

“We have not yet got agreement from the Sudanese authorities – and I think you all heard President [Omer Hassan Al-] Bashir’s statement rejecting a UN force – but let me say that the talks continue and, I hope ultimately, we will be able to convince them to accept a UN force.”

“No one, and least of all the UN, is interested in imposing anything like a colonial rule on one of its Member States, and of course that was one of the fears President Bashir used in rejecting the UN presence.”

Describing last month’s peace deal on Darfur – agreed between the Government and the largest rebel group – as “very tenuous and incomplete” because two of the rebel movements have not signed, Mr. Annan also expressed his hope that a pledging conference in Brussels next month will produce more and stronger support for the African Union Mission (AMIS) on the ground in the troubled region.

“But in the medium term, I still think a United Nations peacekeeping force will be needed to help the parties implement the peace agreement and help provide security for the internally displaced.”

He said the joint UN-AU assessment mission, which is wrapping up its visit to Sudan, would give him its report perhaps as early as next week on the possible transition from AMIS to blue helmets and then, “based on that report, we will finalize our plans.” But he repeated that the AU force needs to be strengthened whatever the outcome of discussions with the Sudanese authorities.

“In any event, even if they were to give us an agreement, it would take several months for the UN force to be on the ground,” he noted. “That is why it is so important that we take every step to strengthen the African Union force, so that they maintain stability on the ground until they are able to transition to a UN force.”

Indeed, helping to strengthen this AU force, which currently numbers 7,000 troops covering an area the size of France, was one of “several urgent tasks” the international community needed to carry out to help the people of Darfur, the Secretary-General said.

“First of all, we need to put pressure on the parties who have signed the agreement to honour and implement it in good faith. We should maintain a persistent pressure on the rebels [who] have not signed, and those parties outside the agreement, to join the agreement, and really press them to honour it in good faith,” he said.

“We should also take immediate and urgent steps to strengthen the African Union force that is on the ground so that it can defend its mandate and defend the people in its proximity… We also need greater assistance from the donor community to be able to assist the needy.”

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno, who is leading the UN delegation on the fact-finding mission, will be back at Headquarters on Monday and will brief the Security Council on the situation in Darfur early next week, a UN spokesperson told reporters today.

Three years of fighting in Darfur between Government forces, pro-government militias and rebels have killed scores of thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million others amid charges of civilian massacre, rape and other atrocities.