
Outrage over the dictator poised to lead Africa London Telegraph \|\| January 18, 2006 Sudan's military dictator is likely to become chairman of the African Union and the continent's face to the world despite waging war in Darfur, it emerged yesterday. President Omar al-Bashir, who seized power in a coup and harboured Osama bin Laden for five years in the 1990s, will host a meeting of African leaders in Sudan next Monday. They are due in Khartoum for a summit of the African Union, an alliance of all 53 countries in the continent. They are likely to outrage human rights groups by electing Mr Bashir as their chairman and Africa's most prominent statesman for the next 12 months. The union's chairmanship is due to rotate to east Africa, deemed to include Sudan, and as the summit's official host Mr Bashir is expected to be elected even though his Arab-dominated regime is conducting a brutal campaign against rebels in Sudan's western region of Darfur, where almost two million people have been forced into squalid refugee camps. Black African tribes have been marked for attack and a United Nations investigation has found Mr Bashir's forces guilty of atrocities. "Government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence," the UN said. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "These acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis and may amount to crimes against humanity." Some 300,000 people, about five per cent of the population, are believed to have died in Darfur since the onset of war three years ago. Fifty African human rights groups urged the union not to favour Mr Bashir with its chairmanship. "Such an action will deeply undermine and erode the credibility of the AU," they said in an open letter to African leaders. The union has mediated in peace talks between Sudan's regime and Darfur's rebels. Its 6,000-strong military force in Darfur has documented numerous attacks on civilians. Critics fear that if Mr Bashir takes the union's helm the mission will be compromised and Africa's attempt to solve a grave crisis will end. But Mr Bashir has ended decades of secessionist war in southern Sudan with a historic peace agreement signed last year. Free elections are intended to follow in 2009 and Sudan has a new government of national unity. African leaders may argue that Mr Bashir deserves a reward for these achievements. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Outrage over the dictator poised to lead Africa

London Telegraph || January 18, 2006

Sudan's military dictator is likely to become chairman of the African Union and the continent's face to the world despite waging war in Darfur, it emerged yesterday.

President Omar al-Bashir, who seized power in a coup and harboured Osama bin Laden for five years in the 1990s, will host a meeting of African leaders in Sudan next Monday.

They are due in Khartoum for a summit of the African Union, an alliance of all 53 countries in the continent. They are likely to outrage human rights groups by electing Mr Bashir as their chairman and Africa's most prominent statesman for the next 12 months.

The union's chairmanship is due to rotate to east Africa, deemed to include Sudan, and as the summit's official host Mr Bashir is expected to be elected even though his Arab-dominated regime is conducting a brutal campaign against rebels in Sudan's western region of Darfur, where almost two million people have been forced into squalid refugee camps.

Black African tribes have been marked for attack and a United Nations investigation has found Mr Bashir's forces guilty of atrocities.

"Government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence," the UN said.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"These acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis and may amount to crimes against humanity."

Some 300,000 people, about five per cent of the population, are believed to have died in Darfur since the onset of war three years ago.

Fifty African human rights groups urged the union not to favour Mr Bashir with its chairmanship.

"Such an action will deeply undermine and erode the credibility of the AU," they said in an open letter to African leaders.

The union has mediated in peace talks between Sudan's regime and Darfur's rebels. Its 6,000-strong military force in Darfur has documented numerous attacks on civilians.

Critics fear that if Mr Bashir takes the union's helm the mission will be compromised and Africa's attempt to solve a grave crisis will end.

But Mr Bashir has ended decades of secessionist war in southern Sudan with a historic peace agreement signed last year. Free elections are intended to follow in 2009 and Sudan has a new government of national unity. African leaders may argue that Mr Bashir deserves a reward for these achievements.

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