Sudan is willing to accept a large increase in the number of foreign peacekeepers in Darfur with a stronger mandate to protect civilians, as long as they remain under African Union control, President Omar al-Bashir has told the Guardian.
The force could have logistical help from European and Arab countries, he added, warning that any UN attempt to impose foreign troops could lead to ”such troops becoming a target of attacks and part of the conflict, not the solution”.
Sudan has come under intense international pressure in recent weeks over the three-year conflict in its western region after the Security Council passed a resolution calling for 20 000 UN troops to replace the African Union’s 7 000-strong force. Senior US and British envoys travelled to the capital, Khartoum, last week to urge the ruling coalition government to let the peacekeepers in.
The Arab League’s secretary-general has also discussed new options with the government.
In his first interview since the diplomatic missions, Al-Bashir refused to give ground. Denying reports that the Arab League had suggested he accept troops from Arab or Muslim countries outside Africa, he insisted any non-African help for the AU be confined to equipment and logistics.
Asked if the AU could double its troop strength to 20 000, the president said: ”We have no objection to the AU increasing its troops, strengthening its mandate, or receiving logistical support from the EU, the UN, or the Arab League for that matter, but this must of course be done in consultation with the government of national unity.”
The war has displaced at least two million people into more than 100 camps in Darfur, and in neighbouring Chad. Despite a peace deal signed with one of the three main rebel movements in May, new fighting has made a further 50 000 homeless.
Al-Bashir, who took power in a coup in 1989, said he ”recognised” that refugees had little trust in his government. This was why the peace deal stipulated that security must be overseen by outside observers and provided jointly with the rebel movements, he said. There would be ”integrated police units” to protect refugees in their camps and on their return home.
But he accused rebels who failed to sign the deal of stopping refugees from returning to rebuild their villages. He offered no motive for this alleged obstruction. Other Sudanese officials claim it is for propaganda purposes, to maintain a humanitarian crisis and keep the focus on Darfur.
”There are many areas in Darfur which are safe for the return and resettlement of the internally displaced people. Although this issue has become politicised and as a result there are elements inside and outside the camps resisting any such effort, the government of southern Darfur has already carried out many resettlement programmes successfully,” he said.
Sudan accepted a 10 000-strong UN force to monitor a peace deal with rebels in south Sudan last year. Western governments which sponsored the latest UN resolution want this extended to Darfur. But Al-Bashir insisted the two issues were separate, since the south Sudan deal allowed for a referendum on secession, something Darfurians had never asked for.
Western governments agree that all rebel groups must sign the peace deal. Al-Bashir urged Britain and the US to stop ”applying pressure [on Khartoum] the way it is being done now — to the wrong party at the wrong time”.
He refused to say what concessions he might offer to persuade rebels to sign, but warned there was a danger that if too much was offered, the group led by Minni Minnawi (which signed the deal) could walk out: ”We wouldn’t want those who signed to exchange seats with those who did not.” Minnawi was made a special assistant to Al-Bashir in August, making him nominally the fourth most powerful person in Sudan. Some rebel leaders have said there is no incentive to make peace because Minnawi has got the top job. He will also nominate his friends to senior posts, they claimed.
The former rebel leader denied this. Minnawi told the Guardian: ”This is not my position. It’s the position for the people of Darfur.” No other jobs had yet been allocated, he added.
Minnawi said he would offer new concessions to those who had not signed: ”I didn’t think we would achieve peace immediately after I signed. I wanted to create the basis for the others,” he said. – Guardian Unlimited Â