ME and Ophelia

- - -

G8 LOOKS TO THE UN TO END DARFUR KILLINGS
And EU funds the African Union in its efforts to solve the crisis

BBC News reports today, on the last day of their US Summit, G8 leaders have called on Sudan to disarm militias in its western Darfur region.

The G8 statement on Sudan said the group looked to the United Nations (UN) to lead the international effort to avert "a major disaster" in Darfur - described as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "There are continuing reports of gross violations of human rights, many with an ethnic dimension," the statement said.

"We call especially on the Sudanese government to disarm immediately the Janjaweed and other armed groups which are responsible for massive human rights violations in Darfur," said the statement.
- - -

EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCED $14.5 SUPPORT
For the African Union in its efforts to solve the crisis

In a separate development at the G8 meeting, the European Union (EU) announced a 12-million euro package ($14.5m) to "support the rapid deployment and operations of an African Union-led observer mission that will monitor the implementation of the recent ceasefire agreement in Darfur".

EU development commissioner Poul Nielson said in a statement that the money showed the EU was "a credible partner" for the African Union in its efforts to solve the crisis.

"We believe that the success of this mission is crucial," said EU spokesman Jean Charles Ellerman-Kingombe. "It is very much needed at this time in Darfur."
- - -

AFRICA NO BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO
G8 to look at plans for 50,000+ peacekeepers over next 5 years

This is despite many initiatives in past decades - from the Brandt Commission and Live Aid in the 1980s to more recent efforts such as Washington's Aids fund and Africa's own NEPAD partnership. Growth rates and life expectancy are falling and poverty is growing amid the Aids epidemic and continuing war, corruption and bad governance. Per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa is now estimated to be $200 lower than in 1974.

The G8 leaders are expected to look at plans to train and equip more than 50,000 peacekeepers over the next five years, particularly for deployment in Africa. US officials said the initiative had grown out of African requests for assistance in ending the civil wars plaguing the continent.