Egypt State Information Service - 24 issue spring 2007

The Sudan's neighboring countries adopted different attitudes towards the conflict in Darfur. Some of those countries tried to invest the crisis between the Sudanese government and international community such as the regime of Idriss Deby in Chad who tried, through approving the UNSC resolution and the proposal of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, to close a source of finance for rebels in eastern Chad who receive a political and economic support from the Khartoum government, according to him. In addition, the international attention will lead to support and improve the worse humanitarian positions of Sudan's refugees in Chad. Also, the presence of forces on the borders represents a preliminary stage for the direct intervention in the region.

The Sudanese government tried to respond to the Chadian approval according to the same way through accepting the deployment of forces on its borders with Chad, but it warned against the interference of said forces in the Sudan's internal affairs. Therefore, the Chadian stance represented a key source of concern to the government of Khartoum in light of the strong western role in its region as well as instability on its borders with Sudan and consequently some observers think that Chad will be the gate through which the western interference will strike Sudan.

The stance adopted by the Central Africa Republic (CAR) was similar to that of Chad as it accepted the UNSC resolution No. 1706 and proposal of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon under the justification that the presence of said forces will enhance security in the Sudanese region. It said that absence of security inside the Sudanese region affects negatively the national security of CAR besides in addition to closing a source of finance for CAR rebels from the Sudanese government.

On other hand, some countries rejected the deployment of international forces and preferred to keep the African solution prevailing while providing the support for the African forces now in Darfur. Libya comes on top of said countries which adopt the African solution and the Libyan government called for the deployment of Libyan-Sudanese joint forces as well as Libyan experts confirming its rejection for the use of a resolution based on Chapter 7 of UN Charter. Libyan President Colonel Moammar Al-Gaddafi said that it is the first time for him to listen about the entry of international forces without approval as the country will resist in case of entry. Libya always stresses that the conflict is for the sake of oil considering that such interference will represent a new colonialism.

In its stance towards the UN forces, Libya represents one of strongest powers in northern Africa seeking to assume the leading role as it is directly affected by events in Darfur in addition to its role in using the region for smuggling weapons during its war with Chad. The Libyan stance enjoys the approval of both the two rebel movements and Sudanese government due to the ethnic and tribal extensions between its region and Darfur as well as strong relations with the government of Sudan, the matter which enables Libya to play more effective and influential role to settle the conflict and approaching points of view.

Egypt also tries to adopt a diplomatic policy leading to calm positions between the Sudanese government and international community in light of the Egyptian role which enjoys the approval of both the Sudanese government and two rebel movements. The Egyptian political leadership works to make use of its strong relations with the international parties to warn against practicing pressures on the government of Khartoum while trying to convince it to show flexibility with requirements of the rebel movements.

Egypt plays a key role in the Darfur's crisis as Sudan represents a strategic depth in southern Egypt and an important source of Egyptian water security sources. Also, the escalation of situation in the African horn region along with the interference of international forces without public approval will lead the region of Darfur to become a new hotbed of conflict. Since the establishment of the African Union forces in Darfur, Egypt participates in said forces and also participates in the UN forces in southern Sudan and therefore it seeks to shoulder a significant role in keeping Sudan's security and sovereignty.

Egypt has offered its vision for the settlement of Darfur's crisis through extending the AU mission in Darfur and convincing the parties which did not sign the Darfur peace agreement to join the agreement taking into account requirements of said different groups or factions. It also stressed the necessity of supporting a "Darfurian-Darfurian dialogue" while allowing the UN to play a role in the peace keeping without violating the Sudanese sovereignty whether through material or military support or providing experiences to the AU forces in the region.

Through its continuous efforts, Egypt is aiming to avoid Sudan the conflict with the international community and finding the diplomatic ways through which it can reach an agreement taking into account the points of view of rebels while, at the same time, safeguarding the Sudan's Arab identity. At the same time, may international parties depends on the Egyptian role and its relations with Sudan as well as the exchange of viewpoints with UNSC members and European powers, and therefore Egypt always warn against the danger of international interference without the approval of Khartoum and also against the danger of increasing international pressures on Sudan. It also tries to create the atmosphere of dialogue between the government and rebels and provide support for the African forces in the region.

Nigeria tried to play an important role in Darfur as one of major regional powers in Africa and its presidency over the previous session of African Union. However, it has rejected the interference of international forces according to the UNSC resolution No. 1706 calling for the continuation of the settlement under the African umbrella. Nigeria has submitted some initiatives to enable the AU force to assume its role in taking the immediate procedures to stop violence in the region, secure refugees and disarm militias.

Eritrea tries to improve its relations with Sudan in response to the development in the Sudanese-Ethiopian relations. It stressed the necessity of continuing the African solution and giving the opportunity by the international community to Sudan to develop its relations with the rebels, according to the advisor of Eritrean president and organization official in the Popular Front Party for Justice in Eritrea. However, it does not express the view which considers Eritrea is the implementing arm of the Israeli foreign policy in the African horn region. The Sudanese government accuses Eritrea of trying to play a negative role in the Darfur's crisis.

The conflict in Darfur shows the absence of confidence between the Sudanese government on one hand and each of the Darfur's rebels and neighboring countries and international community on the other. On the level of Darfur's rebels, the government failed to absorb said factions as those rebels doubted the possibility of reaching a settlement with the government without intervention of international parties. On the level of neighboring countries, the lack of confidence between Sudan and its neighbors led it to involve in internal conflicts in said countries, and therefore such countries has supported the Darfur's rebels and facilitated the smuggling of weapons, ammunitions and fuel.

The absence of confidence by the international community whether in the Sudanese or African solution has led to increase the pressures for the sake of applying the international one, the matter that was met by the Sudan's lack of confidence in the international solution and forces which may transfer Sudan into a new Iraq, according to the Sudanese government. Based on the preceding analysis, we can reach the following:

Third: The internationalization of the settlement is basically attributed to the weakness of the African capability due to the financing problems and lack of strong pressure tools through which it can force all parties to commit with the AU resolutions. The AU must address said deficit and activate said tools in order to be able to face the coming conflicts.

Fourth: The rebel groups in Darfur also suffer from disunity of lines among different factions as only one faction has inked the Darfur peace agreement that was signed in Abuja in May 2006. Other factions did not sign the agreement alleging that it did not reach the requirements of people of Darfur, the matter which led the Sudanese government to face a difficulty in negotiations with the rebels to meet the requirements of each faction. Therefore, the line of said factions and groups must be united through a Darfurian-Darfurian dialogue.

Fifth: It is expected that after fulfilling the economic and separatist requirements of Darfur rebels, it will affect the internal positions of Sudan's neighboring countries as most of them are witnessing instability and separatist requirements. This matter raises questions about the approval of some of said countries to the international intervention.

Sixth: The improvement of relations between Sudan and its neighbors and realization of a proper formulation to settle differences among them represents a preliminary step towards the settlement of conflict in Darfur. This step shall be followed by the Sudanese international dialogue based on the Sudan's readiness to share the power and wealth with the rebels.

- The constants which govern the French policy in Africa as France is one of the previous colonial powers in the African continent in what known as Francophone Africa. The period from 1989 to attacks of September 11, 2001 has witnessed a retreat of the French presence in the black continent, but it does not mean the retreat of French attention in Africa or its previous colonies. We can say that Franc's African policy has witnessed a change in light of the new international changes and transference of the international system into the One Pole system in which the US tries to take the leadership.

- The region of Darfur in western Sudan is neighboring to French influential and significant areas on the historical, economic and strategic levels, i.e. Chad and Central African Republic. It also represents a main gate to the region of West Africa and France has a military base in Chad.

Therefore, France intervened in the Darfur's crisis in order to protect its interests in the region, keep the US away from its vital field and take a proper share in Sudan's oil wealth. When the US refereed to the military interference in Darfur whether through UN forces under its leadership as happened in Afghanistan or through coalitions outside the UN as happened in Iraq, France has deployed some forces on the borders between Sudan and Chad under the pretext of protecting relief convoys, the matter reflecting the hidden conflict between the US and France to control the region.

- The French ambassador welcomed the resumption of negotiations between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government in Abuja on August 23, 2004. He stressed that Africans must exert efforts to settle the African problems within an African framework adding that the African Union (AU) has a basic role in the settlement of Darfur's crisis through monitoring the ceasefire and organizing negotiations between the Sudanese parties. He noted that Sudan has shown goodwill in its relations with the United Nations.

- The ambassador has presented humanitarian targets to justify the deployment of 200 French troops in the eastern region of Chad saying it happened according to the request of the UN Higher Commission for Refugees and denying any military jobs for said French troops in the region.

- French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnie, paid a visit to Darfur and met with the governor where they discussed positions in the region, refugees' crisis and humanitarian relief operations. He also met with the Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir in Khartoum and discussed positions in West Sudan and negotiations between the government and rebels. During his meeting with reporters, the French minister noted that:

- As for the issue of prosecuting war criminals in Darfur before the International Criminal Court, he stressed that France is a friend to Sudan and we did not aim to accuse the Sudan but we want to punish all criminals all over the world.

- Spokesman of French Foreign Ministry said that France prefer that the UNSC would transfer files of those accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. He noted that France dose not term events in Darfur as "genocide" confirming that the international investigation committee did not talk about a genocide but about crimes against humanity and war crimes.

- French Foreign Minister, Philip Douste-Blazy, visited Cairo and Khartoum in November 2006 and confirmed that France is ready to play a role to reach a political settlement for the crisis in Darfur. Following his meeting with President Mubarak in Cairo, Douste-Blazy called for the deployment of UN forces under African leadership noting that France agrees with Egypt on Sudan. He added that efficiency of the AU forces must be increased in order to keep the peace in the region and secure borders of the neighboring countries such as Chad and Central Africa.

On the level of the deployment of UN forces in Darfur, the spokesman noted that the UNSC resolution No. 1706 stipulates the deployment of UN forces there but the stance of the Sudanese government must be taken into account and consequently reaching a formulation allowing the support of the African forces.

- Events in Darfur have a great effect on the stability in the neighboring countries especially Chad and Central Africa, the matter which led France to call for the international presence on the borders.

- France works with the Chadian authorities to confirm its approval on the deployment of said international forces where he said that Chad has shown a positive stance in the interest of the international presence.

- France has supported militarily the governments of Chad and Central Africa when they suffered form the repercussions of positions in Darfur in light of its strong relations with both countries.

- French president Jacque Chirac put the issue of Darfur on top of the agenda of France-Africa summit that was held in Cannes in February 2007 and called on Sudan to approve the international forces. During the Cannes summit, a tripartite summit was held between Sudan, Chad and Central Africa and was attended by President Hosni Mubarak and president of Ghana as the current chairman of African Union. The tripartite summit issued a statement in which the three countries pledged not to allow its opponents to work on its land or allow the smuggling of weapons for rebels in any of the three countries.

- It is noteworthy that France has denied that it played the role of mediator, but the role of facilitator in the meeting, yet it failed to convince the Sudanese president Omar Bashir of the final approval for the deployment of international forces in Darfur to support the AU forces there.

Darfur (the land of the Fur) is situated west of Sudan. It is bordered by the Northern state, the two federal states of Kurdufan northern and Kurdufan western to the east, by the two federal states of northern and western Bahr Al Ghazal to the south, by Libya to the northwest, by Chad to the west and by the Republic of Central Africa to the southwest.

Due to the abundance of rainy agriculture in the region and animal wealth depending essentially on natural pastures, more than 80% of the inhabitants depend on land-tilling and grazing for subsistence.

The region was severely affected by the great drought wave which hit the south of the Great Sahara during the 1970s of the last century. The paucity of water led to the extension of the desert belt to a distance of 100km to the south causing the migration of nomadic groups from the neighboring countries to the grazing regions of more fertile land in Darfur.

The current government of Sudan has divided the region into three federal states, namely northern Darfur, western Darfur, and southern Darfur. The region's main towns are Al Fashir (the historical capital of the region), Nyala, and Geneina.

The region essentially depends on rainy agriculture which is naturally different from cultivation depending on irrigation by water streams such as rivers and canals as agriculture in the first case is linked to the rainfall season. When studying each state individually we will find that the state of northern Darfur is situated within the range of several climatic regions, namely the desert climate in the north, semi-desert climate in the center and some poor savannah in the south. The average annual rainfall on the state ranges between 100-600mm.

The state of western Darfur is better in its resources and it enjoys a semi- desert climate in the north, poor savannah in the center and rich savannah in the south. The average annual rainfall ranges between 200-1200mm. If we go south to the state of southern Darfur we will find that it has the benefit of poor savannah climate in the north and rich savannah climate in the south. The average annual rainfall ranges between 200 – 1000mm.

However its water resources are wasted into the wadis (plains) without exploitation except at Al-Bakar basin which covers an area of 18000sqkm with an estimated storage capacity of one billion cubic meters.

The problem of the three states lies in the fact that the rain season starts towards the end of June and ends towards the end of October. After nearly a month and a half the inhabitants' journey starts to and fro in search of water sources.

The Darfur region is rich with cultivable land, but mostly cultivated one time in the year. Therefore it is away from the economic marginal productivity proportionate with the effort and cost spent on it. Arable land in northern Darfur is estimated at 7,760,275 feddans and in western Darfur about 8 million feddans (acres). In southern Darfur there are about 24 million feddans of cultivable land or nearly 12% of the total cultivable land in Sudan.

Natural pastures area in northern Darfur is estimated at about 7 million feddans in addition to more than 2,1 million feddans of forests. In western Darfur the forests cover about 75% of its total area. Natural pastures and forests cover around 22,7 million feddans in the southern state of Darfur.

Northern Darfur owns a huge animal wealth estimated at 12,088,626 head of ruminants; cows, sheep, goats and camels. It is a wealth equals to 10% of the livestock owned by Sudan of these kinds.

Western Darfur owns an animal wealth estimated at nearly 5 million head of goats, camels, donkeys and horses which contribute to nearly 11% of the national economy. The animal wealth in southern Darfur is estimated at about 9,8 million head of cows, goats and camels equal to nearly 10% of the total animal wealth in Sudan of these kinds.

The state of northern Darfur is rich of its wealth of iron ore, lead, graphite, and chrome and marble. 6 fields for the production of sodium carbonate were discovered in Al-Atroun region which produce nearly 3,846 of the raw material from which sodium carbonate is extracted in percentages ranging between 60-70% which can be exploited in manufacturing caustic soda, adequate for Sudan's needs and the rest can be exported.

As for western and southern Darfur, although there are no geological surveys for them they are abound of copper and iron ore as well as materials for the manufacture of cement let alone the discovery of petroleum in the eastern regions of the state of southern Darfur.

Tourist activity may be strange for Darfur population although the region owns good opportunities for investment in this field but for the conflicts which flare up from time to time in addition to the weakness of the infrastructure, a matter which makes it difficult for tourist activity to exist.

Wildlife which allows the introduction of the safari tourism is the good merit of the region where wild animals, gazelles, deer and rare predatory birds are abundant in addition to some ancient monuments, especially in the east Marra region and Ein Farah. Cypress and pine forests in addition to natural forests spread in western Darfur. Southern Darfur is abundant with dense savannah forests and wild animals of all species.

1. The method of land distribution: Plots of land are owned according to the hawakir system which is the system followed since old times in owning lands. The State used to grant each tribe an area to cultivate. The number of the tribes' population has increased substantially now. Consequently these areas have become inadequate to sustain them due to weak land productivity as result of not introducing modern agricultural systems.

Besides, 80% of cattle grazing are done by herdsmen who travel south during spring in search of rich pastures and return during the rain season in June. These journeys are often accompanied by trespassing of animals which move in herds the size of which may reach sometimes several kilometers inside the farmers' properties during their journey to and fro. This has caused the disappearance of the landmarks of the tracks agreed upon since old times to be the routes of grazing animals. Nomad herders move in groups led by armed horsemen who may even carry heavy weapons to protect their families and the herd. This is enough to cause trespasses when the cattle enter farms and destroy crops leading to clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

3. Degeneration of economic activities especially in agriculture and grazing while there are other work opportunities in the region in other fields such as mining and tourism which can be utilized in the three states of Darfur.

Darfur like the rest of the regions in Sudan suffers from marginalization. Good health services are centered in Khartoum and the big cities, which are an attractive element to the more qualified citizens especially among investors and businessmen.

It is natural that the kind of life lived by shepherds and herdsmen who move from one place to another all the time is detrimental for them to educate their children. In addition, the elite are more interested and eager to move to Khartoum, a matter which deprives the region from the internal development elements due to the immigration of the well qualified in search of better opportunities.

The rate of unemployment in Darfur is high due to the weakness of the capabilities of the population there, a matter which lessens their opportunities to find work. This is in addition to the weakness of development projects which should be carried out by the private sector to provide work opportunities and develop the infrastructure in the region. The result is the increase of poverty rates among the Darfurians.

The current Sudanese government has been keen to build the infrastructure in the region in a way not witnessed before during the previous decades after independence. A power station has been built in Al-Fashir, the capital of northern Darfur. University of Al-Fashir was opened there in 1990 with various faculties including the faculties of medicine, environment science and natural resources, education, etc. Al-Fashir airport has been also developed.

In western Darfur Zalingi University was opened in 1994 comprising the faculties of agriculture, forests, education, Quran and Islamic studies institute, and a computer center, etc. A great number of schools of all stages have also been built in recent years. Agricultural projects have been carried out in the state. A power station has also been built there. In southern Darfur the Nyala University was established in 1994 in addition to a great number of schools and training centers.

Darfur with its three states own good potentials for development. It is a promising region with its natural resources but for the conflicts that break out there and are stirred up by either internal or external elements. The development efforts which started during the last decade of the last century have not yet taken their opportunity to bear fruit, a matter which indicates that there are hidden interests for some to keep things as they are and take them to the road of no return especially after the discovery of petroleum there.

According to Senegal's electoral commission, Abdoulaye Wade, the incumbent and candidate of the Sopi 2007 coalition, secured more than 55% of the vote in the first round of Senegal's presidential election, held on February 25th, meaning that a run-off will be unnecessary.

Idrissa Seck polled 510,610 votes which is equal to 14.93%, Ousmane Tanor Dieng scored 463,967, that is 13.56% of the votes cast. The results further indicate that Moustapha Niasse captured the fourth position with 202, 865 votes rated at 5.93%, Robert Sagna surprisingly led Abdoulaye Bathily and Landing Savané by polling 88,390 of the votes cast representing 2.58%.

Observers have said that Senegal's presidential election was free and fair, voter turnout was high and long queues left some polling stations open late.The voting process was found to be slow and this was attributed to the fact that there were many candidates and the process of voting was complex. In addition, there were concerns about the late start of the elections and the late issuing of voters card.

Corruption : Candidates say they are committed to good governance and democracy. The opposition accuses the government of corruption and undermining civil liberties, but President Wade denies this and accuses the media of exaggerating problems.

was for many decades an opposition leader who was hailed for his liberal tendencies. Besides controlling the governing Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS), Wade is also said to be backed by some 60 smaller opposition parties.

Is a devout Muslim and former prime minister, and was at one time regarded as Wade's heir, but the two fell out in mid-2005 leading to Seck's expulsion from the PDS. He has since returned to the party, but has maintained his candidacy, calling for the separation of political powers and curbs on the presidency. Opposition newspapers speculate that he will head the parliament, the National Assembly.

A diplomat and candidate for the Socialist Party, he was a close aide and the campaign director of former head of state Abdou Diouf in the presidential elections of 1993 and 2000. His status as anointed heir boosted by his nomination to the post of first secretary of the Socialist Party caused the departures of high-profile figures such as Djibo Ka and later Moustapha Niasse. These defections had a large role to play in the defeat of Abdou Diouf in the presidential election of 2000. Ousmane Tanor Dieng argues that the management of the state must be placed in expert hands.

Is another former prime minister, who contested the presidency in 2000 and came third. He is standing on the Alliance of Progress Forces (AFP) ticket, but is also backed by an 11-party alliance known as 2007 Alternative Coalition (CA 2007). He has pledged to improve governance and the economy.

As the second round of the Mauritanian presidential election on 25 March 2007 came to a close, the curtain has fallen on the last chapter of the transitional stage which lasted for 19 months. Launched by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy after the military coup which ousted President Moawiya Weld Tayeh on August 2005, the Mauritanian political system entered into a new stage drastically different from the previous stages heralding the end of military coups in the country and the transfer of power peacefully to the civilians.

The Mauritanian elections drew unprecedented attention internally and externally. Internally voters turned out for the first fully democratic poll since independence from France in 1960. It was also the first to run under the supervision of an independent electoral committee, and the monitoring of international observers. "This event marks the turning of a page in the history of Mauritania. For the first time, the people have been able to vote freely, without intervention," said Marie Anne Isler Beguin, chief of the European Union's 80-member election observer mission.

It also marked a final stage of transition to civilian rule after a military coup in 2005. Power in Mauritania has never changed hands at the ballot box before. Externally foreign governments saw in the Mauritanian elections a test of the military council's pledge to hand over power democratically, in addition to the refusal of the influential states in the Mauritanian arena, especially France and EU of any deviation of the political process from its previously planned course.

Proceeding from the unprecedented significance of the presidential election, the Mauritanian authorities made many preparations to hold fair and transparent elections represented in the following:

- Ballot boxes and voting process were prepared in way to guarantee more electoral rights and transparency for the electors and the candidates including unified polling cards. Candidates were allowed to organize election campaigns.

The presidential election campaign was launched amid an exceptional political polarization between the forces of change which have been working for years to establish plurality, and the forces of continuation which form the continuation of the defunct regime of the ousted long-time president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.

The campaign was marked according to local and international observers by slogans and propaganda more than programs, ideas and dialogues. Although the campaign touched upon important issues in the Mauritanian arena such as corruption, relations with Israel and human rights files related to the African minority, the election campaign was distinguished by the spirit of tolerance and calm, a rare feature in similar countries.

Despite the many positive points, the campaign had some negative ones spotted by the EU observers mission which found out that it missed public dialogues between candidates on TV channels and that the candidates apparently had not have equal material and financial means. 20 candidates registered to run for president according to the list announced by the Constitutional Council assigned to receive and examine candidacy papers. One of the candidates withdrew from the contest after announcement of the approved list.

The relations with Israel were the present and absent issue among the other issues raised during the campaign. Mauritania is one of only four Arab states to recognize Israel. Candidates were divided to four approaches on how their country should deal with this file.

The first approach rejected establishing relations with Israel, the second focused on the importance of continuing them for the high interest considerations of the country, the third approach preferred to keep silent about its attitude, while the fourth stayed completely away from discussing the issue.

Most candidates focused on issues such as fighting corruption, slavery (Slavery is still said to exist in Mauritania, some 100 years after slavery officially ended in the West and since it was officially abolished in the country in 1981) and enhancing the economic and development sector.

They also discussed their countries stance on the dispute over the Western Sahara. Candidates standpoints varied towards the way to deal with the effects of human right violations to which the negro minority in Mauritania was exposed in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991.

The first round of the election on 11 March 2007 ended without any of the 19 contested candidates scoring absolute majority of the votes which was supposed to exceed 50%. According to the results announced by the interior minister Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi won 24,79% of votes, his opponent, longtime opposition politician and leader of the Coalition of the Forces for Democratic Change, Ahmed Ould Daddah, won 20,68% of the votes. Both went to the second round run-off in which Ould Cheikh Abdallahi won 52,58% of the votes beating Ould Daddah who won 47,15% of the votes.

For the first time in the history of Mauritania a second round of presidential election was held marking the first fully democratic elections since 1960. The election was the final transfer from military to civilian rule following the military coup in 2005. It was the first time the president was selected by ballot in the country's history. Rulers in Mauritania have traditionally stormed to office through military takeovers followed by fraudulent elections.

The Mauritanian press saw the presidential election as representing an unprecedented and exceptional Mauritanian event and that what happened in Mauritania would eliminate for good the successive military coups witnessed by the country during recent years.

International observers in Nouakchott described the Mauritanian elections as free and fair. The United States, like the African Union, the European Union and some other countries hailed the election as fair and free. Head of the Francophone International Organization mission said that the recent developments in Mauritania constitute a pride to Mauritania, Africa and the world community.

- The humanitarian and human rights file: The Mauritanian community suffers acute division over issues related to the slavery legacy and fighting it or eliminating its leftovers, besides the intense differences on the African minority file.

- The challenge of maintaining and preserving the democratic gains achieved during the transitional period, developing them and barring the country from going back to totalitarian regimes.

Hence, the Mauritanian elections (presidential and parliamentary) constitute precedence in the whole region. An Arab elected president assumes office peacefully and voluntarily from a military ruler who took power through a military coup in a development most of the Mauritanians see as a bright point in the political history of the country marred in the past by a series of military coups and exceptional rules which led the country to be on top of the list of the more backward Arab countries.

The French city of Cannes hosted the 24th summit for heads of African states and France on February 15-16, 2007. Forty nine delegations from Africa and France as well as representatives of the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and the Francophone Organization took part in the summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the summit in her capacity as the Chairperson of the current session of the European Union. Former Japanese Prime Minister Youshero Mori, who currently presides over the African Committee in the Japanese Parliament, also attended the France-Africa summit.

The official activities of the summit were preceded by meetings of the preparatory ministerial conference which focused on discussing the main subject of the summit "Africa and Global Balance", preparing the summit agenda and final communiqué.

The ministerial meeting discussed the issues of African debts, position of Africa in the World Trade Organization (WTO), relations of Africa with other international organizations, expansion of the UN Security Council and right of Africa to obtain a permanent seat within the framework of the UN comprehensive reform process. Egypt has offered its ideas, during the ministerial conference, concerning the establishment of a constant and periodical mechanism for coordination and consultation between the UN Security Council and AU Peace and Security Council for settling African conflicts through increasing the peace keeping forces in the continent's hot areas.

At the inaugural session, French President Jacques Chirac confirmed that the black continent faces great political, economic, environmental and democratic challenges and he praised the positive indicators realized in said domains. Ghanaian President John Kofour, who is the Chairman of the current session of the African Union, stressed the increasing importance of comprehensive development, programs of political, economic and social reform, supporting democracy. He called on France and the international community for increasing support to Africa.

Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure appreciated the role of President Chirac in support of the French-African relations for achieving a better future for Africa. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the necessity of cooperation between Europe and Africa in face of the problems from which Africa is suffering such as debts, poverty, diseases and terror.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Chairman of the 25th session of the summit in 2009, called on the developed countries to introduce a serious support thus helping the African continent to achieve peace and stability and alleviate burden of debts in order to face poverty and diseases and settle problems of water, desertification, technology transportation, investments attraction and prices of primary materials.

A seven mini summit was held on the sidelines of the France-Africa summit for discussing the Darfur problem and the border triangle among Chad, Central African Republic and the Sudan. The mini summit was attended by leaders of the three countries in addition to President Chirac, President Mubarak and heads of Gabon and Congo under the chairmanship of Ghanaian President. The seven mini summit succeeded to achieve the Cannes Declaration which stressed respect of sovereignty of the three conflicting countries and supporting continuation of participation of the UN and AU in efforts of settling the crisis.

The final communiqué said that the world is linked to the stability and development of the African continent and consequently it is necessary to strengthen Africa's representation in international organizations. The statement added that security and development in the world are associated to stability in Africa and called for hammering out effective mechanisms for realizing the development goals. It also called for the declaration of an African marshal plan for narrowing the digital gap, raising the education level, increasing the press freedom and that African peoples and governments are responsible for the image of Africa in the western media.

As for the crisis of Guinea, Ghanaian President- the current president of the African Union- said he sent a delegation form West Africa countries and the African Union for Guinea to find out a solution to the deteriorating situation there.

Although the AU Summit main slogan was "Science and Technology for development and Climate Change", discussions at the 8th AU Summit session held in Addis Ababa on 29-30 January 2007 was dominated by the chronic African issues such as security, stability in Somalia, Darfur, Cote D'Ivoir and the Great Lakes region, Africa's vision on UN reform, UN Security Council's membership expansion, in addition to the Libyan proposal on the establishment of the African States, ways to contain the African conflicts by peaceful means, development, elimination of poverty and diseases and raising the living standards of the African peoples.

The Summit was attended by the leaders, prime ministers and foreign ministers of 53 African states, the Turkish Prime Minister Ragab Tayyib Ardogan, Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmood Abbas, Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi, the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in addition to a great number of representatives and observers from China, Japan, Latin America, Thailand, Cambodia and directors of international organizations such as the UNESCO and WHO.

Hours after the opening of the first session of the Summit and in a rebuff to Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir's call , the African Union chose Ghana to head the 53-member bloc, turning aside Sudan's bid for the post for the second year in a row.

Sudan had pushed to get the post at last year's summit, which it hosted in Khartoum, but African leaders selected the Republic of Congo's president in a compromise deal in which he would hold it for a year and then hand it over to al-Bashir.

But that deal hinged on Sudan demonstrating progress in bringing peace to Darfur. Instead of calming, Darfur's violence in recent months has spilled into neighboring Chad and Central African Republic.

Sudan's government has been accused of retaliating against civilians as well as supporting paramilitary groups from nomadic Arab tribes blamed for some of the worst atrocities in the conflict. Sudan's government has always denied the allegations.

Konare criticized Khartoum in his opening speech for attacking civilians in the Darfur region (western Sudan) and called on the Sudanese government to stop genocides and air bombardments launched by the Sudanese army. He urged to work for establishing permanent peace in the region.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stressed the need to reach a consensus for urgent deployment of a joint UN and AU force in Darfur. He underlined the importance of working to put an end to the violence and the policies of scorched land practiced by many parties including the militias and to stand up to the regional dimension of the crisis.

Human rights groups opposed Sudan leading the AU, accusing al-Bashir's government of encouraging conflict in Darfur. Chad expressed the same stand and officially declared that it would withdraw its membership from the AU if Sudan assumed the chairmanship of the bloc. Rebel leaders in the region said they would stop considering an AU peacekeeping mission as an honest broker if Sudan was selected.

The Summit's agenda was topped by the slogan "Science, technology and scientific research for development and climate change in Africa", proceeding from the belief of many of the African leaders in the close link between science, technology, scientific research and development. The agenda also dealt with other issues or African-African challenges such as the situation in Darfur, Somalia, security and stability in the continent, establishing new mechanisms such as an African organization for education, science, culture and scientific research, an African bourse, a fund within the AU to alleviate the effects of the rise in oil prices on the African countries.

Discussions included reports on new issues such as the activity of the AU Peace and Security Council, election of new members in the Council, political and economic integration, immigration and development.

Egypt's proposals to the Summit lent a hand to activate African collective action, means to enhance the role of the Peace and Security Council through establishing a mechanism for early warning, pushing forward the process of developing an African ready-to-deploy force to be ready to intervene to keep peace, in addition to discussing the refugees situation in the continent as well as a proposal to set up an African center to address all aspects of the immigration issue.

President Mubarak stressed Egypt's keenness on pushing ahead the African integration march to fulfill the sublime goal of the forefathers of the Organization of African Unity. Mubarak, in the speech read out on behalf of him by Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit who presided over Egypt's delegation to the summit, said that Egypt pays due attention to the scientific research and developed educations. He added that there is an African unanimity that stability and security constitute the main foundation and the true guarantee for the protection of Africa's achievements.

The President also called for continued work to build the continent's peace and security mechanisms through the establishment of an African early warning systems and a council of sages. The first experience of the African Union (AU) in Darfur including positives and negatives lead us to boost our capabilities in the field of peacekeeping according to the same will which enabled us to conclude the peace agreement in southern Sudan and Darfur, Mubarak added. In this context, Mubarak stressed the necessity of continuing the policy of dialogue by all Somali parties as the sole way for settling disputes.

President Mubarak said that we are in need to activate the African-European dialogue according to mechanisms stipulated in the Cairo declaration issued by the first summit in April 2000. Mubarak pointed out that this opinion is supported by many European partners who exert efforts to pave the way for the convocation of the second Europe-African summit, in the second half of 2007 in Lisbon.

Mubarak concluded his address by stressing the necessity of adherence to the unity of line which represents the real warranty for achieving Africa's ambitions and meeting all challenges and difficulties in face of it. Future of Africa is in our hands and through the sincere efforts and truthful will we can carve our aspired better future, Mubarak noted.

* The eighth session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa concluded its activities by issuing four statements determining course of the African action at the time the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he agreed with the Sudanese president Omar Bashir, during their talks on the sidelines of the summit, on cooperation in the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Darfur. The statements also discussed the climate changes and development in the continent as well as the importance of scientific research and technology. The summit confirmed that the African peoples are more determined now, than any time before, to abolish poverty, combat diseases and improve health conditions. African leaders promised to encourage a large number of youths to continue their education in the filed of sciences and technology.

* The summit decided to extend authorities of the committee formed in "Gangol" on the merger of the NEPAD in the AU structures till holding the coming ordinary session of the summit in next July. The African leaders agreed to hold a consultative session in Algeria before the end of March to prepare a roadmap plan for the integration process in addition to a preparatory meeting in Nigeria.

* On the Somali level, the summit issued a separate declaration in which it welcomed Ethiopia's decision to withdraw its forces calling for the deployment of AU forces in Somalia immediately in line with the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) resolutions.

The summit expressed satisfaction towards the progress achieved in attempts of restoring peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the peace agreement signed on October 14, between the Sudanese government and Eastern Front and the agreement of comprehensive ceasefire signed on last September 7 between the government of Burundi and the National Liberation Front. The statement reported detailed paragraphs on the development achieved in the implementation of results of the high-level consultation held in Addis Ababa on November 15 on Darfur and permission of the AUPSC and the UNSC and welcomed the Sudan's agreement on results of said consultation. The statement also urged the African Commission, UN and Sudanese government to accelerate the implementation of results of the high-level consultation with the aim of enabling the UN to speed up the adoption of measures necessary for financing the peace process in Darfur.

- Algeria witnessed the convocation of the regional conference titled "Science and Technology for Society", that tackled usage of power, particularly the nuclear power in the perennial development process and society service.

- The conference run for two days (January 9-10) and in personal sponsorship by the Algerian President Abdul-Aziz Boutafliqa who, with a large number of delegations, ministers and African states representatives, inaugurated the conference. Participation percentage reached 46 Arab and African countries, besides the personal attending of Dr. Mohammed Al-Baradie, Director of the IAEA.

The most important thing emanated form the conference is their confirmation on the right of the African countries to join the club of peaceful nuclear power, particularly that Africa needs more to be an active part in this field; this is for two main reasons represented in the trial to ease poverty, ignorance and illness restrictions to exist development process amidst alternatives of globalization.

- The conference succeeded in taking the okay by the IAEA on positive cooperation with the African countries that need to launch programs of peaceful nuclear power as long as they commit to international standards and restrictions concerning watchdog processes. Al-Baradie declared that Africa is in dire need to develop its cooperation with the IAEA to bridge the gap with other world states regarding rates of power consumption that are 700-times less than the developed countries and 17-times in the African north countries than the industrial states.

- Encouraging the insert of the Regional Cooperation Accord on Research and Development in the field of sciences in the NEPAD initiative. In addition, reviewing the conference work plan in front of the African Unity next summit in Addis Ababa. Besides, renew call for freeing Africa and the Mideast of all features of nuclear armament.