1) "The African Union's efforts in Darfur have been met with constant obstruction by a government that refuses to change its abusive policies," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
2) AMIS continues to encounter obstacles from the Sudanese government as it attempts to reach its full and effective deployment. Only recently, after months of delay, did the Sudanese government allow AMIS to import 105 armored personnel carriers necessary to protect civilians as well as AMIS forces.
3) In October, five AMIS soldiers from Nigeria were killed in an hours-long shootout with government-backed militias in South Darfur.
4) The government-backed Janjaweed militias in coordination with the Sudanese regime's forces continue to operate with impunity from prosecution-despite demands from the United Nations Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council that the Sudanese government stops carrying on with atrocities and disarm these groups.
5) Sudanese regimes has used and is using white cars resembling AMIS vehicles while committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
6) The African Union has played an important role in Darfur, sending a ceasefire-monitoring force, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which now numbers almost 7,000 personnel.
By allowing Khartoum to host AU summit in January 23-24, the African Union would tarnish its credibility and condone the Sudanese government's complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
The regime that has committed and is still committing grave atrocities can not, by all means, be seen as credible mediator if it becomes the head of AU.
Sudan must not be the head of AU and the mediator in Darfur simultaneously.
