GHANA: "Solidarity for Darfur" concert held as Darfur issue haunts Afirican Union summit as it aspires to a united government

Record ID: 452363

  • Title: GHANA: "Solidarity for Darfur" concert held as Darfur issue haunts Afirican Union summit as it aspires to a united government
  • Date: 30th June 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER WEST AFRICAN NETWORK FOR PEACE BUILDING, OURY TRAORE, SAYING: "While we are discussing about the African Union Government, personally I don't think it can happen right now but at least we can talk about the steps that need to be taken, you know, put the time frame, and what are the implementation strategies and so on, but at the same time, you know we cannot put Darfur on the back burner until this Africa Union government is decided and somehow we think that, you know if we have one government it could help in decision making."
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ghana
  • Country: Ghana
  • Topics: International Relations,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVABH8O99Y33TP1U2QFKB2W3CWL1
  • Story Text: Civil activists and human rights groups show solidarity in solving the crisis in Darfur at the 'Solidarity Programme on Darfur', an event seen as a prelude to the African Union summit. Hugh Masekela was among the African artists performing at the event.

    Human rights groups have been meeting in the Ghanaian capital of Accra ahead of the Africa Union (AU) weekend meeting which will debate a grand plan for a continental government.
    Activists on the fringes of the summit are asking for urgent action by the AU to halt conflicts in Sudan and Somalia and to tackle enduring poverty. Their discussions are part of a programme of activities and events on the subjects of peace, human rights, and economic development.
    A three-day summit of the 53-nation AU that starts in Ghana on Sunday (July 1) has scheduled as its top agenda item the building of a United States of Africa and a federal government to rule it.
    But sceptics wonder at the practicality of trying to create a federal government for Africa after decades of wars, coups and massacres that often reflect ethnic and religious fault lines in a continent carved up into artificial borders by former colonial rulers.
    Oury Traore, the Programme Manager of the West African Network for Peace Building, said she doubted a federal government was possible at present. On the subject of Sudan, she added: "We cannot put Darfur on the back burner until this Africa Union government is decided."
    More than 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur in a conflict pitting Sudanese forces and allied militias against local rebels.
    The events in Accra, whose theme was 'Solidarity Programme on Darfur', also included music, with South african Jazz maestro Hugh Masekela topping the bill, and messages of solidarity sent from several rights organisations.
    While most Africans embrace the vision of a united continent of 800 million people, activists and NGOs say the AU leaders must tackle more pressing problems at their doorstep.
    "We'd like very much that our brothers and sisters in Africa should support us, and should also always put pressure on their governments and on the government of Sudan to comply with the demands of the African people and the international community resolutions," said Darfur activist Salih Osman.
    Ghanaian musician Amandzeba was another performer enthralling spectators with his style of indigenous Ghanaian rhythms and Highlife.
    "We think that tonight's concert is a way of using music to attract our people and to pass on the message of peace in Darfur," said Professor Kwame Karikari from the Media Foundation for West Africa.
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