Annan says Sudan supports 'hybrid' UN-AU Darfur force
In a statement released after hours of discussions with AU, Arab League and African officials at the Addis Ababa headquarters of the African Union, the outgoing UN chief said the proposed transformation of the current AU mission into one involving the world body had been agreed. "A hybrid operation (phase three) is also agreed in principle, pending clarification of the size of the force," Annan said. "Appointment of senior officials in the hybrid operation will be discussed between stakeholders."
Phase one and two refer to the build-up of the existing AU force and provision of major UN support to the African mission, which has been criticized for not having the means to stop the escalating violence in Darfur. Phase three is the merging of the AU force, known as AMIS, with a UN mission, although Annan said in his statement that the hybrid force would have to be "predominantly African."
He said the UN and AU would call a meeting of all parties that have not signed a May peace deal -- mainly two Darfur rebel groups -- within two weeks to discuss the matter.
Annan's statement appeared to signal a change in the position of Khartoum, which has vehemently opposed any significant UN role in Darfur, arguing it would be a violation of its sovereignty and could worsen the situation there.
Abdulmahmoud Abduhaleem, Sudan's UN envoy, said the proposal could be "largely accepted" by Khartoum, which has been vehemently opposed to any UN role in Darfur.
Khartoum has especially fought a UN Security Council resolution that authorized a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force without its approval, but Abduhaleem said Thursday's agreement was different. "This is a new plan that can be largely accepted by Sudan and takes 1706 to the graveyard," he said, referring to the number of Security Council resolution that the authorized the UN force. "1706 is dead."
This would be a "very special type of operation" with the UN "paying for the AU to do the job," Abduhaleem told reporters.