By Opheera McDoom
KHARTOUM, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Sudan's push to head the African Union gathered pace on Friday with no rival bid emerging despite concerns that a Sudanese presidency would hurt Africa's reputation and AU-sponsored peace efforts in Darfur.
Sudan is hosting a summit of the 53-nation body next week, and by tradition the host takes over the chairmanship. Critics say this would undermine AU-mediated talks to end the conflict in Sudan's west where AU troops are monitoring a ceasefire.
Sudan, under fire for its human rights record, says it already has the backing of 12 East African states for its bid to take over the chair from Nigeria.
"We are very glad about this decision (by East African states) and we think that the other nations will follow the same path and back us," Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol told Reuters ahead of an African foreign ministers meeting.
Egypt said East Africa backed Sudan to head the organisation officially launched in 2002 to help promote democracy, human rights and development across Africa.
Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said it was East Africa's turn to take the presidency and said giving it to Sudan would both reward it for ending a more than 20-year war in its south and encourage it to end fighting in Darfur.
"It will be helpful to give credit to the government of Sudan so that it could go further in the resolution of the conflict in Darfur," he said.
Darfur rebel groups say they will quit peace talks in Nigeria if Sudan takes over. Khartoum has said Nigeria would still host any Darfur peace talks, even if it is no longer head of the AU.
Diplomats said few African states were ready to oppose Sudan's bid openly, even if they were not keen on it, because of an African political tradition of non-interference in each others' affairs.
NO RIVAL CONTENDER ANNOUNCED
"There is no clear alternative, which works in Sudan's favour. Those who are uneasy with Sudan may not turn up and so not be able to vote. Sudan may get it by default," said one Western diplomat.
No country has announced a rival contender for the position. African officials said Central African states could field a candidate, which some said might be Congo Republic, but they said no decision had been taken yet.
Central African state Chad, which accuses neighbouring Sudan of backing rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby, is the only nation which has openly campaigned against Khartoum.
"There are now three possibilities. Either Central Africa nominate someone, probably Brazzaville, or we get it, or they delay the decision and keep Obasanjo," a senior Sudanese official said.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has held the post for two years, has not said if he backs a Sudanese presidency.
The AU has won plaudits for deploying forces in Darfur, the organisation's first major foray into peacekeeping and has been praised for a review process that encourages good governance in a continent where corruption has long deterred investors.
Analysts say the good work could be undone by choosing Sudan as chairman because it would be seen to reward a government whose actions in Darfur have been widely condemned abroad.
"It would be highly inappropriate for the Sudanese government, which is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, to preside over the African Union," said Peter Takirambudde at New York-based Human Rights Watch.
"The AU's credibility, and its ability to promote and protect human rights, would be irreparably damaged," he said in a statement.
(Additional reporting by Nick Tattersall)