Darfur news
TEN SECOND ACTION: The diplomatic circus surrounding the invitation of Robert Mugabe to the EU-Africa summit has obscured a more ominous silence by the EU. No-one has mentioned the invitation issued to President Bashir of Sudan.
Bashir and his government has remained defiant to the International Criminal Court indictments, obstructed the UNAMID peacekeeping force and caused endless delays to the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Government has rejected troops from contributing nations, delayed the granting of basic rights, denied visas, wrapped aid supplies in red tape and expelled UN and humanitarian officials.
Incredibly, it is reported that Darfur is not even on the agenda of the summit.
Darfur Divestment Condemns Hostage-taking of Oil Workers
The Darfur Divestment Campaign and the Aegis Trust wholeheartedly condemns the reported hostage-taking of GNPOC oil workers by Sudanese rebels in the Kordofan region of Sudan. Whilst we continue to push oil companies working in Sudan to meet minimum standards of corporate social responsibility, and to help end the suffering of the people in Darfur, we in no way advocate violent solutions to these problems. We urge the rebels to release the Canadian and Iraqi oil workers immediately and to utilize non-violent means to resolve the crisis in Darfur.
UN force authorised for Darfur
Last night’s UN Security Council resolution mandating over 19,000 troops and over 6,000 police for Darfur, with authorisation to use force to protect civilians, has been welcomed by campaigners as a landmark step in the right direction. Aegis has been calling for a force of over 25,000 troops with a Chapter VII mandate since publishing a dossier on the issue in May 2005.
