US president voices frustration at UNAMID deployment, warns Sudanese President

Sudanese Online Reporter
12 December

The US President George Bush has expressed frustration at the rate of deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur and stressed the necessity for the UN to expedite sending troops to the war-torn region.

Bush also warned President al-Bashir that “He cannot escape accountability” for the conflict in the region.

Following a meeting with Dr. Halima Bashir, a Darfuri woman who was tortured and gang-raped after witnessing government militia surrounding a school and raping dozens of girls and their teachers, the US president said "I am frustrated with the pace of activities" referring to the deployment process of UNAMID. Bush further stressed that the UN must expedite sending troops to the war-torn region of Darfur where an estimated number of 2.7 million people are displaced by attacks.

Bush also reaffirmed US support for the peace process powered by the UN-AU. "We support the mediation process by the AU-UN mediator,” Bush said and added “In other words, we recognize in order for there to be peace in Darfur that parties must come to the table in good faith and solve the problems."

The outgoing US President did not leave the issue of possible ICC indictment against Al-Bashir unaddressed. “It’s very important for President Bashir of Sudan to know that he cannot escape accountability and that if he so choose, he could change people’s lives, the condition of people’s lives very quickly.” He stressed.

SOR notes that the US’s special envoy to Sudan, Williamson, had previously warned that the US will veto any resolution to defer the indictment of Al-Bashir unless progress is made on the grounds in Darfur.

All rights reserved – Sudanese Online Reporter - 12 December 2008