US Congress complicates Darfur problem – Sudan

Dec 4, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government has described the draft bill on Darfur being discussed by the US Congress, as further complicating the Darfur problem.

The draft bill calls for suspending Sudan’s membership in the U.N. and banning the sale of weapons to the Sudanese government or any other armed group in the troubled Darfur region in western Sudan.

It also urges President George W. Bush to take all necessary measures to prevent Khartoum from receiving oil revenues and bans American banks from dealing with Sudan’s oil revenues, as well as imposing sanctions on any country or organization that benefits from this income.

The draft calls on Bush to name a new special envoy to Sudan to supervise the implementation of the peace treaty between the north and south and work towards ending the war in Darfur in western Sudan. His task would be to seek an end to instability across the country until a democratic central government is installed.

In press statements yesterday, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Al-Samani al-Wasilah, said the USA and the international community knew very well that the Darfur problem was as a result of underdevelopment and that it would have been better to resolve this rather than add more complications.

He further called on Darfur rebels to focus on the nation particularly in this crucial state of the transitional phase. He said they should try to achieve at least a minimum agreement which would allow all areas of Sudan to push change forward in the next stage.

He called on them to not place obstacles and demands which he described as being at times unattainable.

He further revealed of an agreement between Sudan and Chad at leadership level to resolve any problems which may occur in relations between the two countries.

He denied Sudan had accused France or any other side of being involved in recent incidents in Darfur.

(ST/UPI)