New US sanctions not the way to Darfur peace – Salva Kiir
May 31, 2007 (OSLO) — U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan will do nothing to help bring peace to the Darfur region, and will only hurt people in other parts of the country, Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit said Thursday.
U.S. President George W. Bush ordered sanctions Tuesday to spur the African nation’s government to halt bloodshed in the Darfur region. More than 200,000 have died in the conflict between ethnic African rebels and pro-government janjaweed militia.
Mayardit, who is president of the southern Sudan region as well as national First Vice President, said his Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudan government are working on a solution and that sanctions “will not solve the problems in Darfur.”
“There will be an impact on the civilian population because if the sanctions go deep into the economic base, it will affect the people,” said Mayardit, in Oslo to meet Norwegian leaders. “Southern Sudan will be hit first because its only income comes from oil.”
Bush’s sanctions target government-run companies involved in Sudan’s oil industry, and three individuals, including a rebel leader suspected of being involved in the Darfur bloodshed.
After years of fighting the Muslim-dominated government of northern Sudan, the mainly Christian and animist peoples of southern Sudan formed an autonomous region as part of a 2004 peace agreement. After six years, the pact would allow them to vote on whether to remain part of Sudan or secede.
Even though Darfur is far from southern Sudan, southerners carry sway there because they also oppose the Khartoum government.
In the Darfur conflict, black African Muslim rebels have been fighting for four years for regional autonomy against militia allegedly supported by the mainly ethnic Arab central government. A peace agreement and cease-fire was accepted only by the largest rebel group, and has had little impact.
Mayardit said leaders of Darfur groups are supposed to come to southern Sudan in mid-June to discuss peace efforts, and that talks should last about a week.
In Oslo, Mayardit met Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Aid Minister Erik Solheim. Norway helped mediate the peace accord between the north and south, as Solheim was in Sudan last week to discuss southern Sudan and Darfur with top leaders.
(AP)