US demands immediate end to fighting in Darfur

WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (AFP) — The United States demanded Wednesday the immediate end to unrest in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, blaming a rebel group for breaking a ceasefire in the province where Washington believes genocide was committed.

Displaced Sudanese children pray Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, in the Kalma refugee camp near Nyala town in Sudan’s western Darfur region. (AP).

The United States strongly condemns the escalating violence and continued ceasefire violations taking place in Darfur,” State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

“This fighting must stop immediately,” he said, branding the violence “a clear violation” of ceasefire and security deals.

“The latest incidents of violence were instigated by the Sudan Liberation Movement Army, and they have resulted in the suspension of humanitarian activities in the areas of fighting,” he said.

“This has caused increased suffering to the civilian population, and our message to the Sudan Liberation Movement Army is clear. The international community expects that all violence stop and agreements reached be honored.”

A London-based spokesman for the SLM, one of two main rebel groups in Darfur, announced Wednesday that the group considered truce deals signed with Khartoum effectively over, warning that it would resume fighting and seek to oust the government.

The statement came only a day after he had reaffirmed the SLM’s commitment to the accords.

Ereli urged all parties in Sudan to cooperate with the 3,000-strong African Union force deployed in Darfur to monitor the ceasefire.

The fighting began in February 2003 when rebels launched an insurrection to protest what they allege is the political and economic marginalisation of black Africans by the Arab-led government.

Khartoum’s response was to unleash the Arab Janjaweed, who have been blamed by Western officials and aid workers for killings, rape and widespread violations of human rights.

Since then, more than 70,000 people have been killed or have died from hunger and disease in the area, according to the United Nations, and another 1.5 million have been displaced.

The United Nations has described the situation in Darfur as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, while the United States has accused Khartoum of carrying out genocide through its proxy militias.