AMIS-Press Release on the deteriorating security situation in south Darfur
AFRICAN UNION – AFRICAN MISSION IN SUDAN
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in the Sudan, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe has been following with deep concern the deteriorating security situation in the AMIS Force Sector 2 Area of responsibility in South Darfur. Exclusive responsibility for this lies squarely on the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement whose military elements have engaged in clashes for control of territory.
The genesis of the current offensive and counter offensive goes back to March 2005 when JEM was forced out of Muhajeriya by the SLA. Consequently, the JEM occupied GRAIDA despite requests by AMIS Forces for them to relocate some 6 Km outside Graida. On the 3rd June, 2005, the SLA attacked the JEM positions in Graida with heavy bombardment and the firing of mortar bombs which killed 11 persons, wounded 17, and burnt several houses.
These actions of the rebel movements, especially the relentless pursuit and attacks on JEM elements by the SLA with heavy civilian collateral damage, are unacceptable and condemned in the strongest terms. They constitute a serious breach of the Ndjamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement and the arrangement which the Government of the Sudan commendably respected by pulling its troops out of Graida and other locations, thereby paving the way for their demilitarization and occupation by AMIS Forces.
The JEM and SLA are hereby called upon to cease hostilities and pull out their forces completely from Graida and at the locations taken over by AMIS Forces from, or vacated by, Government troops. The Government of the Sudan is urged to continue its current laudable restraint and the rebel forces are called upon to show similar restraint at this moment when all efforts are being made to reconvene the Abuja political talks on the 10th June, 2005, as scheduled.
AMIS Spokesman Noureddine Mezni
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