AU threatens sanctions against Darfur rebels

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union (AU) has threatened to impose sanctions on a fractious rebel group in Sudan’s Darfur conflict unless it backs peace talks.

In a statement late on Tuesday, the regional body’s peace and security council accused the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) of holding up negotiations in Nigeria aimed at ending a nearly 3-year-old civil conflict in western Sudan. “The Council reminds the leaders of the SLM/A of their heavy responsibility not to prolong the suffering of their people in Darfur and strongly demands that they put aside their differences and personal ambitions and focus on the negotiations,” it said.A split in the leadership of the SLA, one of two rebel groups fighting government forces in Darfur, has stopped it forming a joint position at the AU-sponsored talks in Abuja.Observers say the SLA split has delayed the talks.The council has “decided, in close cooperation and consultation with the UN Security Council, to consider future appropriate measures, including sanctions, to be taken against any party that will undermine or constitute an obstacle to the peace process in Darfur”, the AU statement added.It did not specify what those sanctions might be.Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 2 million displaced, since a revolt in Darfur began in early 2003.- Nampa-Reuters”The Council reminds the leaders of the SLM/A of their heavy responsibility not to prolong the suffering of their people in Darfur and strongly demands that they put aside their differences and personal ambitions and focus on the negotiations,” it said.A split in the leadership of the SLA, one of two rebel groups fighting government forces in Darfur, has stopped it forming a joint position at the AU-sponsored talks in Abuja.Observers say the SLA split has delayed the talks.The council has “decided, in close cooperation and consultation with the UN Security Council, to consider future appropriate measures, including sanctions, to be taken against any party that will undermine or constitute an obstacle to the peace process in Darfur”, the AU statement added.It did not specify what those sanctions might be.Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 2 million displaced, since a revolt in Darfur began in early 2003.- Nampa-Reuters