 Sudan's push to head the African Union is gathering pace with no rival bid emerging despite concerns that a Sudanese presidency would hurt Africa's reputation and AU-sponsored peace efforts in Darfur.
| I'm not sure Africa's reputation could be hurt any more than it has been. Genocide in Rwanda, Bob Mugabe in Zim, and most of the Congo pygmies killed and eaten kinda sez goodly swatches of Subsaharan Africa aren't places civilized people want to associate with. |
Sudan is hosting a summit of the 53-nation body next week, and by tradition the host takes over the chairmanship. Critics say this would undermine AU-mediated talks to end the conflict in Sudan's west where AU troops are monitoring a ceasefire. The US State Department has already indicated its opposition to Sudan assuming the chairmanship at a time when the country is widely accused of stoking violence in the western Darfur region. Spokesman Sean McCormack said. "There are certain contradictions in the idea of Sudan holding the chair of the AU while there is an AU mission in Sudan designed to help protect Sudanese citizens in part from the government of Sudan."
| Y'might say that, if you're into understatement... |
Sudan, under fire for its human rights record, says it has the backing of 12 East African states for its bid to take over the chair from Nigeria.
| That doesn't surprise me. |
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