Kofi Annan: "Not a Second to Lose to Save Darfur!"
    By Kofi Annan
    Le Figaro

    Friday 19 May 2006

I am counting on the support of all UN member states, especially those sitting on the Security Council.

    The agreement concluded by the Sudanese government and the main rebel movement in Darfur offers a new chance to reestablish peace in this region that has been plunged into misery. But we must act quickly. The negotiations that led to this agreement were long and difficult. We are indebted to many persons for having brought them to at least a partial conclusion. But we cannot yet rejoice or rest on our laurels. Last week, while the most senior UN official responsible for humanitarian action was visiting a displaced persons camp, a riot broke out and an African Union Mission interpreter was hacked to death. There's much to do. There's not a second to lose.

    To start with, some rebel leaders have not yet signed the agreement. We must convince them to choose the way of peace rather than the war path. If the tragedy continues because of what they will or will not have done, history will judge them severely.

    Then we must do everything to assure that those who have signed the agreement insure its application on the ground, so that the inhabitants of Darfur can survive the coming months. For that to happen, the Darfurians must be protected and must be able to subsist since they've been hounded from their homes and their lands and can't provide for their own needs. That means that those who bring them assistance must also be protected. At the moment, there is only one force on the ground able to assure that protection, that of the African Union Mission (MUAS). Our priority must be to consolidate this force in such a way that it can watch over the application of the agreement and offer the displaced true security. But that's a short term solution.

    As soon as possible, MUAS must change into a larger, more mobile, better equipped and more forceful UN authority. We want to confer as soon as possible with our African Union partners with regard to the reinforcements MUAS will need to carry out the principal points of the Abuja agreement, then to organize a conference for the declaration of contributions, possibly at the beginning of June in Brussels. But I call on donors not to wait until then. May they be generous, and be generous right away.

    I also call on all those who are in Darfur to help MUAS do its work. No party must encourage, excuse or tolerate aggressions like the one that occurred last week. The region is going through the most serious humanitarian crisis on the planet. Without massive and immediate support, aid organizations will not be able to continue their work, and hunger, malnutrition and disease will take hundreds of thousands of victims.

    At the same time, we must continue to prepare the transfer to a United Nations operation, a mutation that the African Union's Council of Peace and Security has been demanding since March 10, and which the United Nations Security Council authorized on March 24. For the UN, it's a challenge that will be difficult to meet. But it may not shrink from it, and, having accepted it, the UN must assume this responsibility without waiting any longer.

    What we've already done has taught us that the UN force that will succeed the present African Union Mission force must be much larger, and will need a great logistical effort on the part of countries who can help on that level.

    The next stage will be that of a technical evaluation mission in Darfur itself. The UN and the African Union will proceed to an on-the-spot analysis of the situation, will consult all parties and determine the needs that must be met.

    No peace-keeping mission can succeed if it's not supported and seconded by parties at the highest level. That's why I wrote to President Bachir to ask him to support the evaluation mission. His role is essential and I hope to have the opportunity to speak with him about it directly very soon. In the meantime, I once more exhort all the parties, especially the Sudanese government, to respect the cease-fire and to demonstrate by their acts that they intend to keep their word. I also exhort Sudan's Arab and African neighbors to accord that country all possible financial and political assistance. For its part, the UN Secretariat General will do everything within its power to help the Sudanese people close a tragic chapter of their history. I count on the support of all member states, especially those that sit on the Security Council.

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    Kofi Annan is United Nations Secretary General.