[AU-Monitor] Sudan's bid ratchets disapproval

[AU-Monitor Analyst/Editor]

The AU Heads of State Summit which begins on Monday, January 29 and ends on
Tuesday the 30th is expected to elect a new chair to take over from Sassou
Nguesso, president of Congo Brazzaville, whose tenure ends at this summit.
The election of a new chair has become  a widely canvassed issue because of
the controversy generated by a potential bid from Sudan.

The chairmanship of the African Union is decided on a rotational basis. In
2006, it was East Africa's chance and Sudan was nominated from the region.
However, the conflict in Darfur and the threat by rebels to abandon peace
talks in Abuja if Sudan assumed the AU's chairmanship led to the election of
Congo Brazzaville in place of Sudan.

Sudan is intent on assuming the chairmanship of the AU at this week's
summit. Several African countries are known to be quietly but strongly
opposed to a Sudan bid and civil society opinion is tilted against Sudan's
intentions. This makes the election of the chair of the AU a closely watched
item on the summit agenda.

*Below is a collection of quotes carried in the media on the election of the
next chair of the African Union:*

"Selecting Sudan would send an extremely bad message to the world. Sudan is
in defiance of the AU and guilty of extensive human rights abuses," *Dr
Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director, Institute for Security Studies (ISS).*

"A decision on the AU Presidency must not compromise the neutrality and
independence of the AU's operation in Darfur. African opinion will never
accept a choice of Mr Bashir as president of the African Union. Such a move
will discredit the institution and diminish the image of the African Union
as an independent arbitrator in the eyes of the world", *Mr Alioune Tine,
Secretary General, Secretary General, Rencontre Africiane Des Droits de
l'Homme.  *
* *
      "Although it will certainly take some nimble diplomatic manoeuvres,
Africa cannot afford to allow the reputation of the AU to be shattered by
installing the man presiding over one of the continent's worst humanitarian
crises as mediator over that crisis", *Steven Gruzd, deputy head of the
Governance and APRM Programme at the South African Institute of
International Affairs.*
**
"Awarding Sudan the chairmanship would not only reward the sponsors of
crimes against humanity in Darfur, it would irreparably discredit the
AU", *Peter
Takirambudde, Africa Director, Human Rights Watch.*
 "We urge that African Heads of State examine carefully the role and
function of the AU Presidency – both with respect to the vital
responsibilities with which the AU is tasked in Darfur but also in order to
maintain the credibility and effectiveness of the AU institution as a whole
as guardian of peace and security on the continent," *Dismas
Nkunda, spokesperson, Darfur Consortium.*
Although it will certainly take some nimble diplomatic manoeuvres, Africa
cannot afford to allow the reputation of the AU to be shattered by
installing the man presiding over one of the continent's worst humanitarian
crises as mediator over that crisis. Then it can get on with the real
business of improving Africa. *Steven Gruzd is deputy head of the Governance
and APRM Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs*


       **

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-- 
Gichinga Ndirangu
Consultant Policy Analyst / Editor
AU- Monitor
aumonitor.editor at gmail.com

AU-MONITOR www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/index.php
is an initiative of
Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice
Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi and Oxford
www.fahamu.org
www.pambazuka.org

-- 
Gichinga Ndirangu
Consultant Policy Analyst / Editor
AU- Monitor
aumonitor.editor at gmail.com

AU-MONITOR www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/index.php
is an initiative of
Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice
Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi and Oxford
www.fahamu.org
www.pambazuka.org
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