The African Union and the United Nations stressed the necessity of reaching a political agreement before the referendum on independence in southern Sudan and for an inclusive political process in Darfur.
The meeting between the two organizations that took place yesterday aimed at evaluating the strategies to follow, with particular emphasis on the post-electoral context, the peace process in Darfur and the preparations for the referendum.
The former South African President, Thabo Mbek,i briefed the UN Security Council last December on the conclusions of a report he complied about the Sudan.
Mr. Mbeki reiterated the root cause of the conflict in Darfur and Sudan is the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a Khartoum-centered elite and the marginalization of the so-called periphery, including Darfur.