afrol News, 6 October - The UN reports that "Sudan has failed to disarm militias or prevent more attacks in Darfur." Despite this "lack of progress", the UN Security Council is easing its pressure on Khartoum. There is no more talk about possible oil sanctions against Sudan but enhanced focus on African Union (AU) peacemakers, which also should be set to protect the displaced.

The UN's top envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, yesterday told the Security Council that the Sudanese government had made no progress last month in either stopping militia attacks against civilians in Darfur, disarming those armed groups or prosecuting the individuals responsible for the worst atrocities.

Mr Pronk told the Security Council's 15 members that, while Khartoum had not reversed the gains it had achieved in August, "there was no systematic improvement of people's security and no progress on ending impunity." In September, frequent and sometimes "atrocious" attacks by the militias, numerous breaches of the ceasefire by both the Sudanese government and the rebel groups, and an alarming rise in armed banditry had occurred, he said.

UN Security Council members, who last month gave Khartoum an ultimatum to disarm militias or face an oil embargo, however made no forceful statement against Sudan. Even US Ambassador John Danforth, who had led the efforts to threat Khartoum with possible oil sanctions, yesterday kept quiet on such actions.

Mr Danforth after the Security Council briefing told the press in New York it was not the time to push for tougher action against Sudan. "I think right now we have to keep our eye on the ball. The focus now is on the African Union," the US Ambassador to the UN said.

The Security Council was told by Mr Pronk that the AU now needed financial, logistical and training support needed so it can rapidly expand the size and mandate of its mission in Darfur, currently limited to monitoring the ceasefire only. Mr Pronk recommended the AU force be given the power to protect internally displaced persons, monitor the activities of the local police and disarm fighters, including the Janjaweed militias.

The proposed presence of AU peacekeepers would constitute a buffer between the civilian population and possible attackers, according to the recommendations presented by Mr Pronk in a report to the Council. "If one or more of these tasks remain unfulfilled, an unstable situation will result, unsustainable peace or even no peace at all," the report states.

Speaking to reporters outside the Security Council, Mr Pronk said he was pressing the AU to proceed as soon as possible with their proposal to increase its force size to more than 3,500 troops and monitors from the current level of about 350. "The AU is willing, there is no lack of political will in the AU, but there is a capacity problem and that has to be supported by other countries," he said, adding he had asked the EU for financial support.

The UN Security Council yesterday evening endorsed the report by Mr Pronk and agreed to its recommendations. The UN was to facilitate the establishment of a large AU peacekeeping contingent with widened powers. There was no talk of pressing for sanctions on Sudan's oil exports; a solution that had been strongly disputed as it was introduced by the US last month.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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