EU peace prize winner Salih Mahmoud Osman is in Ireland today to discuss the future of the Darfur region of Sudan with Irish political figures.
Mr Osman, who was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov prize for freedom of thought last year, was invited to visit Ireland by Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan, who is a member of the development aid committee in the European Parliament.
He will meet President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Defence Minister Willie O'Dea.
Speaking ahead of today's visit, Mr Osman said: "Ireland has and always will be a friend of Africa and a friend of the people of Darfur.
"Ireland plays a leading role in promoting strong development aid policies, is one of the largest contributors of development aid per capita in the world and is a very strong defender of human rights in Darfur, in Africa and around the world."
"It must be remembered that the situation in Darfur is deteriorating. There are now 600,000 refugees in eastern Chad, in awful conditions, all of whom have fled from Darfur."
Mr Osman is also scheduled to meet Irish NGO representatives based in Sudan, and Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche will host a reception for him in Iveagh house this evening.
A lawyer from the Darfur region, Mr Osman has taken many legal cases against the Sudanese government as a member of the Sudan Organisation Against Torture, and he was imprisoned without charge for more than seven months in 2004.