United Nations Radio

Bringing a message of hope and optimism from Africa, the Chairman of the African Union, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, said there is increasing political stability and peace on the continent.

Many countries have flourishing economies and democratically elected governments are the norm. President Kikwete noted, however, the continuing conflicts in Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He expressed hope that the full deployment of the UN/African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur will help end the conflict and the humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese region. To that end, on behalf of the African Union, he called for deferring the indictment of the President of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes committed in Darfur, as it would complicate the deployment of peacekeepers and the management of the humanitarian crisis. But he said this does not mean condoning injustice.

"Justice is a matter of essence - it must be done, it must be seen to be done. We are simply concerned with the best possible sequencing of measures so that the most immediate matters of saving lives and easing the suffering of the people of Darfur are taken care of first."

President Kikwete also congratulated Zimbabwe on resolving the crisis of the contested presidential election by forming an inclusive government.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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