Former senator named as US diplomatic envoy

The United States on Thursday announced the appointment of former Senator John Danforth as special envoy to Sudan. US President George W Bush told a press conference in Washington DC that, by appointing Danforth, the US would “continue to signal to the rest of the world our interest in this subject [of war in Sudan]... our desire to bring governments together to achieve a lasting peace.” Danforth, 65, an ordained Episcopalian minister from Missouri, acknowledged that he had no expertise on Sudan but said he was ready to “determine if there is anything useful the US can do to help end the misery in Sudan.” He said he was “prepared to deal with both sides of the conflict, the government of Sudan and the SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army].”

The Sudanese government said it would work with the envoy, so long as Washington pursued an impartial policy, news agencies reported on Thursday. “The cooperation of the government with the American envoy will depend on the degree of his impartiality, and that of the American administration,” AP news agency quoted Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma’il as saying. Khartoum has criticised previous US administrations for their policy on Sudan’s 18-year civil conflict, claiming they have been biased towards southern rebel groups, including the SPLA.

Bush’s first choice for Sudan envoy, Chester Crocker, turned down an offer of the job in June, saying the US domestic political situation was hindering peace efforts in Sudan. Crocker claimed that attention from pressure groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus and conservative Christian groups would make the job of US special envoy to Sudan very difficult.