The African Union (AU) on Tuesday chose Congo Republic as a compromise to chair the organization after opposition to Sudan because of fears its human rights record could hurt the continent’s credibility.
Under the deal, Sudan takes over leadership of the 53-nation body after Congo Republic steps down next year.
Critics had said Sudan should not get the chair while it was under fire for rights abuses in its western region of Darfur, where 7,000 AU peacekeepers are trying to uphold a tentative cease-fire between the government and rebels.
Trying to save face
Some delegates and diplomats said the solution was mainly a face-saving measure for Sudan, which had initially been reluctant to withdraw its candidacy. They said Sudan’s chairmanship in 2007 could well be challenged later on.
“This was a decision to save face. Tomorrow is another day,” said one delegate from West Africa, whose region opposed Sudan.
Darfur rebels had threatened to quit AU-sponsored peace talks in Nigeria if Sudan was picked as next AU head. One rebel group said it would continue talking now Congo was chosen but had reservations about Sudan becoming president in 2007.
African nations had been split about Sudan, which had put itself forward for the presidency based on a tradition that the summit host takes over as AU head. A five-nation panel proposed the deal that Congo hold the presidency before Sudan.
After the decision was announced, Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso took the chair from outgoing president, Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, who has held the post for nearly two years.
Sudan to be ready by 2007?
An AU official said a draft resolution on Sudan’s presidency in 2007 still had to be formally approved. Such resolutions are usually rubber-stamped.
“In 2007, Sudan will be — I believe — available to be president of our Union. We hope that between then and now we will help it resolve the crises to allow it to be available,” said President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, one of the five countries which worked out the compromise.
A Sudanese minister said Sudan would focus on resolving the Darfur conflict by 2007, after ending another 20-year civil war in its south in 2005. Incoming AU head, Sassou, said conflict prevention would be the cornerstone of his term.
But one rights group said the deal just postponed the presidency problem and, by promising Sudan the chair, failed to put conditions on Sudan to address rights abuse accusations.
“If Sudan’s records of atrocities disqualifies (President Omar Hassan) al-Bashir from the presidency this year, how can we be sure that this doesn’t disqualify him next year?” said Reed Brody from New York-based Human Rights Watch.
World opinion
Western diplomats said the AU’s decision to delay Sudan’s appointment showed the organization, set up in 2002, would not be deflected from its mission to promote democracy, human rights and development on the continent.
“It definitely shows that they are very sensitive about what the world thinks,” said one Western diplomat, adding that it would help raise the AU’s credibility with donors.
Sudan had said it had the backing of North and East Africa for its bid, but diplomats said southern, western and central African countries had urged Khartoum to withdraw its nomination.
The summit had discussed the possibility of extending Nigeria’s term, but some African nations were wary of breaking a tradition of a rotating presidency.
A compromise choice, Congo’s Sassou fought a civil war in 1997 to return to power after losing multi-party elections five years earlier. There have also been questions about his administration’s handling of oil funds.
But Western diplomats welcomed the AU’s decision.
“He’s not got the same standing as presidents like (South Africa’s) Mbeki or (Nigeria’s) Obasanjo on the world stage, but he is someone who will be listened to in the region,” said one senior Western diplomat.
The debate at the summit has overshadowed the official agenda, which was to focus on culture and education. Human rights issues are also being discussed.
