Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir underlined on Saturday that the core issue is success not chairmanship of the African Union (AU) summit. Speaking to the Sudanese News Agency, he underlined the role of the sixth AU summit slated here on Monday, in massing together people of the African continent through activation of cultural and scientific activities. | "Cos here in the Sudan, we're all about the culture and the scientific progress. You could look it up." |
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Critics say this would undermine AU-mediated talks to end the conflict in Sudan's west where AU troops are monitoring a ceasefire.
Sudan, under fire for its human rights record, says it already has the backing of 12 East African states for its bid to take over the chair from Nigeria. Meanwhile Minister of foreign Affairs, Dr. Lam Akol, has criticized before the meeting of the AU's Ministerial Council today the report of the AU's Commission on the conflicts in Africa, including the situation in Darfur. Dr. Akol has described the AU Commission's report as contradictory and did not give regard to the positive developments in the country. He said, the AU Commission's report has neglected the great change in Sudan which resulted from the signing of the comprehensive peace agreements and the efforts of the government and Sudan People's liberation Movement (SPLM) toward implementation of the agreement's items. He refuted the report's claim that the committee for the border between North and South Sudan was not yet established, explaining that this committee was already set up in November 2005.