Khartoum, Sudan - The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hinted the expulsion by Darfur's local authorities of the French non-governmental organization 'Doctors of the World' did not receive its approval, warning the move could backfire and undermine its efforts to reconcile the country with the West.

According to the official Sudan news agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was “critical of the decisions taken by some state officials with regards to foreign matters without coordinating with the ministry on matters that could cause serious harms to the country's interests, blowing up all positive actions gained in the international arenas.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Khalid Musa was referring to statements in the local media attributed to the Governor of South Darfur State, Abul Hameed Musa Kasha, that he was acting on statement by President Omar Al Bashir that governors of the states in Darfur
could take action against any organization that undermines Sudan’s national security.

“The national security is a joint responsibility carried out by all government apparatus in the different domains, each in their area of specialization,” the spokesman said, reaffirming that in matters related to the foreign relations, the Ministry shoulders “some sensitive dossiers that need controlled and coordinated, coherent... vision and policies among all levels of government so as to achieve the supreme interests of the country.”

He said decisions at the level of the state, taken without consultation or coordination with the federal government, contradict efforts to improve the country's foreign relations.

Kasha was quoted by the local media as saying, after the seeming reprimand from Khartoum, that he was ”not an employee” of the Foreign Minister, Ali Karti.

It was not clear however whether the French organization has left the country or not, or whether the ministry is going to reverse the expulsion order.

Karti has recently returned from a European visit during which he was said to have discussed with the European Union (EU) on the need to soften its stand on the move to prosecute top Sudanese government officials, includeing President Al Bashir, who were accused of crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court.

France is however said to be one of the EU countries that have been taking a rigid stand on the need to bring to justice all the accused.

The Governor of South Darfur had ordered the French NGO out of Sudan for allegedly supporting rebel movements and for submitting report of alleged rape cases in the region.

Pana 21/02/2011