Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has rebuffed Gov. Bill Richardson’s insistence that a U.N. peacekeeping force is needed in the war-torn Darfur region, the Associated Press is reporting.
“Our experience with U.N. operations in the world is not encouraging,” al-Bashir told the news service. “There are sufficient forces in the Sudan from African countries to maintain order and they can provide order. All we need is funding for the African troops.”
He said U.N. troops would be “colonialist,” but did not reject such a force outright. Al-Bashir apparently made the comments to an Associated Press reporter after the conclusion of his meeting earlier today with Richardson. He also told the reporter he was not refusing peacekeepers – he has already allowed a small number of U.N. civilians into Darfur – but did not elaborate and, according to the news service, “Richardson led the delegation out of the room before any follow-up questions could be asked.”
Though he didn’t succeed in securing a pledge to allow the troops into Darfur, Richardson claimed another success following the meeting. He and al-Bashir issued a joint statement that both sides had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while they work toward peace, the news service reported.
But the Associated Press also raised the possibility that al-Bashir would renege on his pledge – something he has a history of doing.
For example, al-Bashir sent a letter to the United Nations at the end of December stating that he would accept a plan to allow in peacekeeping forces beginning Jan. 1, but he has not done that. The government has supported local militias for years that have killed more than 200,000 people, displaced more than 2.5 million and committed genocide.
There are seven thousand African Union troops in Darfur, but their commander told Richardson Tuesday that he needs more.
Rebel leaders told Richardson Tuesday they would agree to peace talks and a 60-day ceasefire, but will insist that al-Bashir disarm militia groups, reunite the three states in Darfur and give them a role in the government, and compensate victims of the war, the news service reported.
Though the men told Richardson they would agree to a ceasefire, the news service reported that it’s not clear whether they have the power to stop all rebels from fighting, since they are so fractured.
Richardson said al-Bashir agreed to a peace summit with rebels to be held no later than March 15.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has rebuffed Gov. Bill Richardson’s insistence that a U.N. peacekeeping force is needed in the war-torn