The African Union (AU) on Sunday proposed a new enhanced
humanitarian ceasefire agreement to solve the long-due Darfur
conflict between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebel
movements.
The action followed a new decision made by the 15-member AU
Peace and Security Council on Friday to extend the AU's
peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region from March to
September 30, in order to gain time to try to mediate a peace
agreement between conflicting parties and allow the United
Nations(UN) to prepare to take over the job.
The proposal mainly focused on the demilitarization of
humanitarian supply routes and camps for refugees. The routes and
camps should be protected by AU peacekeepers. All conflicting
parties should withdraw forces to clearly identified areas, with
buffer zones between them, the proposal said.
The proposal also called on all parties to "bring bloodshed and
suffering in the region to an immediate end."
As rebel leaders coming to Abuja, Nigeria to attend the Monday
talks, all sides appear pessimistic for reaching a peace deal
before the April 30 deadline set by the AU Council.
Clashes flared up in Darfur in February 2003 when local farmers
took up arms against the Sudanese government. At least 180,000
people have died, and some two million have been displaced during
the clashes.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2006)
