- "Quite frankly, our approach is not working," says UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, referring to the situation in Sudan's Darfur region. While the humanitarian situation for the many displaced is deteriorating, ongoing clashes in Darfur are producing even more refugees. The UN Security Council however appears blocked.
Mr Annan yesterday evening admitted that the UN's attempts to solve the crisis in Sudan's western region of Darfur had so far been a failure. This was reflected by the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Darfur, where more than 1.65 million people now have been displaced from their homes.
- The situation is deteriorating, Mr Annan told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. "The internally displaced persons are suffering, the African Union has not been able to put in as many forces as we had hoped, and they need desperate help," he added.
According to the UN, the situation in Darfur has further worsened over the past week. Sudanese government forces and the rebels have taken part in fresh clashes across the region, and the murder of several non-governmental organisation aid workers. The British group Save the Children has thus decided to pull its entire staff out of Darfur.
- Quite frankly, our approach is not working, Mr Annan said, calling for a re-examination of the UN's steps so that it can put greater pressure on the Sudanese government, the militias and the rebels to resolve their conflict. While not ruling out a trip to the country, he said it would not be as effective as a coordinated international approach.
The UN Secretary-General was speaking to the press after having urged the Security Council to make an immediate and "real re-assessment" of their approach to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The Council earlier had threatened with oil sanctions against Sudan, but this will probably be met with a veto by Russia and China.
Mr Annan said the UN Security Council must work together to speed up the deployment of African Union (AU) troops to try to end the fighting there and the continuing attacks on civilians. The AU peacekeeping force currently stands at less than a quarter of the projected number of 4,000 troops.
Mr Annan added: "What other measures can we take to ... hold some of the individuals who are responsible accountable, hold them individually accountable, for us to be able to move forward?" He said "these kinds of decisions and actions have to be decided here and taken here, and so, whilst a trip to the region may [at] some time be necessary, the re-assessment is urgent." The US has however indicated it would veto sending war crimes cases to the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, he latest round of AU-sponsored peace talks, held in Abuja, Nigeria, broke up yesterday without any results and another round of negotiations has been scheduled for next month. Representatives of the Khartoum government and Darfuri rebels had been urged to retreat to their old positions and cease the new fighting that is paralysing humanitarian work in Darfur, but failed to reach an agreement.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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