Pretoria - The South African government and African Union have kick-started talks aimed at finding solutions to the funding challenges experienced in conflict resolution missions across Africa.
"The Department of International Relations and Cooperation ... [is] engaging the African Union regarding the funding and logistics of South Africa's contribution to the Sudanese mission, with a view to finding a workable and sustainable solution," said the Presidency on Sunday.
While the Presidency affirmed South Africa's commitment to supporting the African Union, its structures and regional organisations in working for peace, stability and sustainable development, it has acknowledged that there are budgetary and resource constraints with which it has to contend.
Furthermore, the Presidency dismissed as "incorrect and misleading" allegations that former President Thabo Mbeki was being systematically shuffled out of the process with the AU, in which he has been intensely involved.
"His work of facilitating the outstanding post-referendum issues, such as the status of the Abyei region in Sudan, the sharing of assets and liabilities between the North and South [Sudan], citizenship, oil-sharing, border demarcation and the status of international agreements, has yet to be completed," said the Presidency.
"The Presidency will continue to provide support to former Presidents and deputy presidents, guided by the regulations and available resources."
In July 2008, the African Union Peace and Security Council called for the formation of an AU High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD), chaired by Mbeki, and made up of a team of experts and other eminent African personalities.
The original mandate of Mbeki as chair of the AUPD was to undertake an in-depth study of the situation in Darfur and submit recommendations on how best to effectively address the conflict in Sudan.
However, this was extended to chairing the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan, which sought to effect the recommendations made by the AUPD.
The Presidency explained that Mbeki still had a role to play.
"[Outstanding] issues are expected to be resolved by 7 July 2011, when ... South Sudan will declare its independence. Once the AUHIP has fulfilled its role, the African Union will review the mandate of former President Mbeki."
It added that South Africa was fully supportive of the role that Mbeki plays as chair of the AUHIP in facilitating these fragile post-referendum issues, and is also committed to supporting the role of the AUHIP in resolving the situation in Darfur.
