International brief ~ US submits Sudan peacekeeping resolution to Security Council News
International brief ~ US submits Sudan peacekeeping resolution to Security Council

[JURIST] In Tuesday's international brief, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Stuart Holliday [official profile] introduced a draft resolution to the UN Security Council [official website] on Monday proposing the creation of a 10,000 member peacekeeping force to be deployed to the Sudan [government website]. The proposal leaves the geographical deployment of the forces up to the UN Department of Peacekeeping [official profile], allowing for the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces to the still-volatile Darfur region. The Sudanese government hasn't yet given permission for the introduction of peacekeepers to the region. Without offical Sudanese approval of the force, the Security Council would need to authorize the peacekeeping mission under Chapter VII powers [official text] of the UN Charter, instead of Chapter VI powers. CNN has more.

In other international legal news …

  • ECOWAS [official website] negotiators met Tuesday with Togolese officials in an attempt to restore the country to its orginal constitutional framework. The negotiators are hoping to arrive at a deal Tuesday, as ECOWAS's threat of sanctions takes effect Wednesday. ECOWAS officials are also calling for an apology for the Togo government's refusal Friday [JURIST report] to allow a plane carrying the Nigerian president and African Union negotiators to land in the capital city of Lome. ECOWAS has threatened economic sanctions unless Togo [government website in French] returns its constitution to the original form that required an election following the death of a the president. Voice of America is reporting that ECOWAS and Nigerian officials are pressuring Togo President Fuare Gnassingbe to resign. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Togo. Republique Togolaise, the official government news website, has local coverage.
  • Ronny Abraham of the French Conseil d'Etat [official website] was elected Tuesday by the Security Council and the General Assembly of the UN to fill a vacant seat on the International Court of Justice [official website]. Abraham will serve out the remainder of former ICJ judge and president President Gilbert Guillaume's nine year term, due to expire in February, 2009. The UN News Centre has more.
  • Somalian Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi [BBC profile] announced Tuesday that the transitional government, currently meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, would be conducting further reviews of the status of the capital city of Mogadishu, Somalia before moving the government agencies back to the war-torn area. Gedi had been pushing for the relocation of the government-in-exile to Mogadishu by February 21. Tuesday's announcement of further reports being required is the first indication that the newly formed Somalian government might be delaying their move back to the capital following last week's killing of a BBC journalist [BBC report]. Mogadishu was also the sight of a protest Monday over the proposed African Union [official website] peacekeeping force requested by Gedi during the first several months of the government's relocation to Mogadishu. Gedi recently recently received approval [JURIST report] for his cabinet nominations, paving the way for the final return of the Somalian government to Mogadishu. AFP has more.
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