AU Peace and Security Council to discuss Situation Darfur, Monday 18 September, New York

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 Post Conflict and 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 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 that calls for the expansion of the UN mission in Sudan (UNMIS) from the current 10 000 to 17,300 troops and an additional 3000 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.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

18 September 2006