situation in Darfur, Monday, 18 September, New York
18 September 2006
New York - The African Union Peace and Security Council will convene in New
York later today, Monday, 18 September to discuss the situation in Darfur and
consider the mandate of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
South Africa will be represented at the AU Peace and Security Council
meeting by South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union Committee of
Post-Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is currently in New York as part of the South African
delegation to the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
led by President Thabo Mbeki.
Minister Dlamini Zuma's attendance of the AU Peace and Security Council
comes within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidating the
African agenda through among others support for post-conflict reconstruction
and development initiatives.
The AU Peace and Security Council meeting in New York today convenes against
the background of the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1706 that
calls for the expansion of the UN mission in Sudan (UNMIS) from the current 10
000 to 17 300 troops and an additional 3 000 civilian police.
Resolution 1706 further urges the Government of Sudan to accept the
deployment of a UN force under Chapter VII mandate. In terms of the resolution,
part of the new force will be sent to Darfur to monitor the implementation of
the peace agreement signed in Abuja, Nigeria on 5 May 2006.
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
18 September 2006
