Summary: EU Council Conclusions on Africa - 2736th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting (Luxembourg: 12 June 2006)
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
Sudan
The EU will work for the full and rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) as a precondition for lasting peace and security in Darfur and an end to the suffering of millions of the people in Darfur. The EU calls on all parties to implement the DPA and states its willingness to take measures against those that impede the peace process. Together with other partners in the international community, the EU will continue to provide planning, technical, financial and equipment support
to both the military and police components of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), in order to help it fulfil its mandate as effectively as possible. In doing so, the EU will also take into account the new tasks arising from the DPA, and the need to ensure a smooth transition to a UN led operation in Darfur, in line with the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the AU of 15 May 2006 and in full cooperation with the Sudanese Government. The EU is ready to respond positively to
the requests for support to the implementation of the DPA, including in relation to the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation. Similarly, the EU will continue to be at the front stage by organizing in Brussels the forthcoming July 7 conference on AMIS. This conference will be followed by a pledging conference on reconstruction and development of Darfur, to be organised by the Netherlands in September.
The Council calls on the Government of Sudan and all parties in Darfur to remove immediately any existing obstacles to the delivery of aid and to end any obstruction of humanitarian work or of assistance rendered to AMIS.
The Council remains deeply concerned by the risk of destabilisation caused by the Darfur crisis on Chad, on the Central African Republic and by the reports of increasing insecurity in the Darfur refugee camps in Chad. The EU calls on Sudan and Chad to comply fully with the obligations as set out in the Tripoli agreement of 8 February, put an end to any direct or indirect support to rebel groups in the other country, with a view to contribute to secure peace at their common borders.
The Council recalls its support for sanctions against those blocking the peace process as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005). It reiterates its full support for the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of human rights abuses in Darfur as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) and urges all parties, in particular the Government of Sudan, to fully cooperate with the ICC.
The EU reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan, including through its participation in the Assessment and Evaluation Commission. The EU is closely following developments regarding talks between the Sudanese Government and the Eastern Front aimed at resolving existing problems in Eastern Sudan. In all these efforts, the EUSR for Sudan will continue to play an important role in ensuring comprehensive and coherent EU
action.
Uganda
The EU stands ready to contribute to put an end to the unacceptable activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in both Northern Uganda and in the sub-region, as well as to assist efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Northern Uganda. The Council calls on the Ugandan Government to work actively for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Uganda in collaboration with countries in the region. The LRA commanders indicted by the ICC must be apprehended and brought to face
justice as a matter of urgency.
Somalia
The EU is deeply concerned regarding recent violence between armed groups in and around Mogadishu. This poses a serious threat to a fragile process of transition towards democratic institutions. The EU welcomes reconciliatory statements from the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI), notes the statement from the Union of Islamic Courts and encourages a similar approach from other parties in Mogadishu. It urges all parties to start a dialogue aiming at consolidating reconciliation in Somalia,
for the sake of the stability of the country and the safety of its people.
Recalling its commitment to support the development of the capacities of the Somali security sector, the EU urges all parties to observe the arms embargo scrupulously and to avoid further destabilising a country which is already flooded with armaments.
The EU will continue to fully support, in line with the conclusions of the Council of 20 March 2006, all efforts by the Somali TFIs for dialogue, national reconciliation, stable governance and for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Council calls on the parties to take urgently all the necessary measures for the "concomitant" implementation of the process of disarmament and identification, as prerequisite for the organization, by the end of October 2006, of free, open, fair and transparent elections. Through its participation in the International Working Group, the EU will continue to support the full implementation of the feuille de route, under the leadership of Prime Minister Konan Banny, and will be ready to push
for appropriate measures against those who impede the peace process. At the same time, the EU will be following closely developments in the West African region. The Council recalls the central role of the UN in Côte d'Ivoire.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The EU will continue to assist and help to secure the very extensive process of political transition, in particular through support to the holding of the first democratic elections since more than 40 years. The EU fully supports the electoral calendar by the electoral independent commission and recalls that there is no alternative plan to the holding of elections. The EU has provided substantial funding for the election preparations and is sending an Electoral Observation Mission. It calls upon
all political forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to continue pursuing this path of peaceful and democratic change in the run-up of the elections, starting on July 30. The Council calls upon all actors to engage in the electoral campaign in a spirit of peace and reconciliation and it will strongly condemn all discourses which appeal to hatred and xenophobia. The EU will deploy the military operation EUFOR RD Congo, in response to a request from the United Nations, designed to
provide support to MONUC in certain situations. This deterrence force, for the duration of the electoral period, will include an advanced element deployed in Kinshasa and a force over the horizon. EUFOR RD Congo will build on EU´s longstanding engagement in the DRC. For the same purpose, the EU's police mission in Kinshasa (EUPOL Kinshasa) will be reinforced. The EU will continue to support the ongoing Security Sector Reform through its mission EUSEC RDC. All these activities will be carried
out in full agreement with the government of the DRC. For the period after the elections, apart from continued support for security sector reform, the EU is prepared to engage in quick impact projects to assist immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation, to be followed by a long-term effort for sustainable development taking into account the principles of good governance and transparency. The ongoing process of securing regional stability through the early holding of the second Summit of the
Great Lakes Conference has the full support of the EU.
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