UNION AFRICAINE


UNIأO AFRICANA
P.O. Box: 3243, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Tel.: (251-1) 51 38 22 Fax: (251-1) 51 93 21
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PRESS RELEASE N0 15

The AU Special Envoy and Chief Mediator for the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on the conflict in Darfur, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, has learnt with great concern about the attack on Saturday, 8 October 2005, by individuals dressed in SLA uniform, on the troops of the African Union, while the later were on patrol. The attack, which occurred in the region of Nyala, in South Darfur state, caused the death of two AU soldiers and two civilian contractors, while four other soldiers suffered injuries.

The AU Special Envoy unreservedly condemns the attack. He is particularly disturbed at the fact that it happened while the Sixth Round of the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks is underway in Abuja, and while the AU is making arrangements to deploy more troops on the ground.

The AU Special Envoy notes further that the series of incidents which occurred in Darfur in the past weeks, unless brought to an immediate end, could adversely affect the ongoing efforts aimed at bringing about a comprehensive peace agreement in Darfur.

Accordingly, he strongly urges the Sudanese parties, namely: the Government of the Sudan (GoS), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM/A) to comply with the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement signed in Ndjamena on 8 April 2004, as well as with the recently signed Agreements on Humanitarian and Security Issues, to refrain from any and all actions which are in contravention of these agreements, and to cooperate with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to enable it fulfill its mandate.
Abuja, 9 October 2005