Madam, - We are greatly concerned about the threat to the integrity and impartiality of the African Union as Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir is due to be elected its chairman at this month's AU summit in Addis Ababa.
Sudan's ambition to assume the chairmanship in 2006 failed after widespread objections to its candidacy on the basis of its government's appalling human rights record. In almost four years of conflict between the government of Sudan and rebel groups in the western region of Darfur, more than 200,000 people have died and over 3 million have been displaced from their homes. Trócaire, working with local and international partner organisations, has been part of the massive relief effort on the ground throughout the crisis in Darfur.
Since last year the situation there has further deteriorated as violence continues to increase. In this context, and given the documented and continuing human rights violations perpetrated by Sudan and its allied militias in Darfur, it is critical that Sudan be denied the privilege of chairing the AU in 2007.
However, within a declaration by the AU assembly in January 2006 it was agreed that Sudan would defer its candidacy in 2006 with the stipulation that it would assume the position in 2007. The AU summit due to take place before January 31st will enforce or revoke this decision, thereby determining the future effectiveness and perceived impartiality of the AU peacekeeping force.
An AU with Sudan at its helm would erode the credibility of the organisation and make it impossible for the AU to act as an independent arbiter of the Darfur conflict. This in turn could also jeopardise the AU's authority in mediating other conflicts on the continent. We believe it is crucial that Ireland and the wider international community engage with the AU and its member-states to seek to withhold the African Union chairmanship from Sudan at the upcoming summit. - Yours, etc,
JUSTIN KILCULLEN,
Director,
Trócaire,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.