Tripoli meeting on Darfur
The following is the full text of Tripoli Consensus on the political process in Darfur (issued by the African Union on 29 April 2007)
"TRIPOLI CONSENSUS ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS FOR DARFUR
At the invitation of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, an international meeting on the situation in Darfur was held in Tripoli on 28 and 29 April 2007. The following states and organisations attended the meeting: Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the United Nations.
The meeting reconfirmed support for the Addis Ababa conclusions of 16 November 2006, subsequently endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council.
The participants underlined the urgency of finding a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Darfur crisis and:
- Expressed grave concern over continued violence and insecurity in Darfur and urged all parties to immediately cease hostilities and act upon their commitment to uphold a ceasefire without delay;
- Expressed deep concern over the prevailing humanitarian situation and strongly urged all parties to facilitate humanitarian access and delivery. In this context, welcomed the agreement that was reached on 28 March 2007 between the Government of the Sudan and the UN, and called upon all parties to implement it fully;
- Called for immediate cessation of all attacks against humanitarian workers, AMIS personnel, and their properties;
- Recognized the complementarity of the political and peacekeeping tracks;
- Stressed the need for sustained funding for AMIS until transition to the Hybrid operation, for humanitarian assistance, and for economic recovery and development;
- Stressed that the political process be given priority, and, in this context, reviewed all ongoing initiatives in support of a sustainable political solution to the Darfur crisis and emphasized the importance of continued involvement of regional actors in the process;
- Noted on-going efforts aimed at cohesion and consolidated positions among the nonsignatories, including the SPLM plan to hold a conference of non-signatories, and called for urgent progress of those efforts;
- Agreed on the need for convergence and coordination of all these initiatives under AU-UN lead;
- Urged all parties to demonstrate serious commitment in the political process and accelerate preparations for negotiations;
- Warned all parties that those who obstruct the peace process in Darfur will have to bear the consequences;
- Underlined the need to make the peace process more inclusive and urged the AU and UN to continue engaging with civil society, tribal leaders, IDPs, refugees, and women groups;
- Expressed support for the AU and UN Special Envoys' activities and encouraged them, in cooperation with regional and other efforts, to intensify consultations and rapidly finalize their road-map on a strategy and timeline for renewed negotiations, including format, venue and support required for the mediation team;
- Welcomed the recent positive developments in the relationship between Chad and Sudan and encouraged the two countries to continue the ongoing efforts for the implementation of the Tripoli Agreement of 8 February 2006 and the subsequent bilateral agreements between the two countries.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the Leader of the Revolution and to the Libyan people for hosting this important co-ordination meeting on the political process for Darfur and for the hospitality extended to the participants."
Deputy Special Representative Manuel Aranda da Silva meets with First Vice-President and President of southern Sudan Salva Kiir
Deputy Special Representative Manuel Aranda da Silva met yesterday with First Vice-President and President of southern Sudan President Salva Kiir. Discussions focused on the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the DDR process, as well as on Darfur. Mr. Salva Kiir informed DSRSG da Silva on the SPLM initiative to assist in re-energizing the political process and the contacts carried out and planned in this regard with the DPA non-signatories.
Security and Humanitarian Developments in Darfur
North Darfur
A Sudan Liberation Army faction, non-signatory to the DPA, claimed that on 29 April, the Sudanese Armed Forces attacked and bombarded Hashasba North, South and Centre (54 km Northwest of Mellit ). The African Union has so far not confirmed the allegation. On 29 and 30 April, local media reported claims from two Darfur rebel commanders that their forces had shot down a SAF helicopter at Um Rai, North Darfur. This claim has so far not been confirmed, including by the SAF, who according to press reports, acknowledged that the air force had lost contact with one helicopter on a reconnaissance mission, 60 km northeast of the town of Kutum. About 193 new families arrived in Abou Shouk IDP camp (El Fasher) from Dobo Madrassa. Some of the families were accommodated by relatives in Block 14 and 15 of the camp. Others have not found accommodation within the camp.
South Darfur
On 29 April, two INGO vehicles carrying five staff members were stopped by several armed men between Abu Dangal and Shearia (80km Northeast of Nyala). The attackers hijacked one vehicle equipped with radio and satellite telephone. The passengers were allowed to proceed in the second rented vehicle. No injuries were reported.
West Darfur
On 28 April, unidentified armed men fired shots inside Hassa Hissa IDP camp, injuring an elderly woman. The local police intervened to address the situation. On the 29 April, IDPs from the Hassa Hissa and Hamadiya IDP camps (Zalengei) held a peaceful demonstration to denounce the shootings in the IDP camps on 28 April.
Security and Humanitarian Developments in southern Sudan and the Transitional Areas
On 28 April, unidentified armed men ambushed a truck on its way to Toroge village (70 km south of Kadugli). The attackers fired at the truck when the driver tried to drive through the ambush. Four passengers were killed and threes others suffered serious injuries. On 28 April, in Abyei, a SAF soldier was stabbed to death and another SPLA soldier was injured as a result of an altercation with SPLA from Minyang. Both the SAF and the SPLA agreed to deal with the issue in court. On 29 April, a woman was reported shot to death by a soldier, allegedly from the SAF.
Restriction of access continues to be imposed on UNMIS by both SAF and SPLA to the north and south of Abyei respectively. The restrictions were reimposed on UNMIS on 28 February 2007.
* All UNMIS News Bulletins are available at www.unmis.org