African leaders should not elect Sudan’s president as head of the African Union, Human Rights Watch said on Friday.
Omar al-Bashir is a candidate for the rotating presidency, expected to be finalised by the 53 member states at their sixth summit in Khartoum on Monday and Tuesday.
”It would be highly inappropriate for the Sudanese government, which is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, to preside over the [AU],” said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of HRW’s Africa division.
”The AU’s credibility, and its ability to promote and protect human rights, would be irreparably damaged.”
HRW said the Sudanese government, its militias, and members of the rebel movements were already under investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes in violation of international law in Darfur.
The organisation released a 57-page report on ”Imperatives for Immediate Change: The African Union in Sudan,” in which it examines the AU’s evolving role in the Darfur conflict in terms of the African Union Mission in Sudan (Amis) as ceasefire monitor and protector of civilians.
It said that as AU leaders and United Nations (UN) planners consider a transfer of the AMIS force to UN control, they would need to ensure that the change did not diminish the mission’s ability to protect civilians.
The report also identifies ways AMIS can be immediately strengthened to improve civilian protection in Darfur as transfer to the UN could take months, and this included the use of deadly force.
HRW said the AU operation in Darfur had been repeatedly obstructed by the Sudanese government and only recently, after months of delay, did the Sudanese government allow Amis to import 105 armoured personnel carriers necessary to protect civilians as well as Amis forces.
”African leaders must put all possible pressure on the Sudanese government to stop impeding the effective operation of Amis,” said Takirambudde. ”The Sudanese government’s continued attacks on civilians merit a tougher response from the African Union.” – Sapa