Japan donates $500,000 to support Sudan's AU mediation team

March 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Japanese government has announced it will allocate $500,000 from its 2013 supplementary budget to support mission of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP).

The Japanese embassy in Khartoum issued a press statement on Thursday saying the money is part of Japan’s government contribution which amounts to $5 million to support AU’s efforts to resolve pressing issues of peace and security through the AU peace fund.

The money is intended to help both countries achieve democratic transformation and facilitate negotiations to arrive at political solutions in conflict areas, it said.

The statement underscored that Japan considers the AUHIP a main pillar in resolving outstanding issues between Khartoum and Juba, noting that the principles of the AUHIP are consistent with Japan’s firm conviction that negotiations are the only means for achieving peace and stability.

The Japanese ambassador to Khartoum, Ryoichi Horie, said that his country is committed to exert every possible effort to achieve permanent peace and stability in Sudan, affirming that Sudan’s peace, stability, and development would contribute to achieving the same objectives in Africa as general.

He commended the tireless efforts of the AUHIP and the valuable role played by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, calling on them to continue helping Sudan and South Sudan to resolve the disputed issues between them.

The AUHIP, which is chaired by the former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, was founded in 2009 to help resolve the Darfur crisis and facilitate negotiations relating to South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in July 2011 including disputes over oil, security, citizenship, assets, and their common border.

(ST)