Cease military hostilities, Nobel Laureate tells the two Sudans

May 8, 2012 (JUBA) – Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a former Nobel Laureate for peace has urged the leadership of both Sudan and South Sudan to cease military escalation and resume immediate negotiations without pre-conditions.

Tutu, who currently chairs the Elders, an independent team of leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide, said they are deeply worried by the impact of recent fighting in the two neighbouring nations, including cross-border ground military activities and aerial bombardments on innocent civilians.

“We have watched recent clashes along the border with a heavy heart. The terrible lessons of war seem to have been forgotten already. Again we are seeing military solutions being pursued which can only lead to death, destruction and suffering,” Tutu said in a statement.

“As Elders, we know only too well the difficult compromises needed for the sake of peace. We profoundly believe in meaningful dialogue as the only way forward for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for Sudan and South Sudan,” he added.

The Elders, according to the South African Archbishop, remains optimistic that the leadership in both countries can play fundamental roles necessary for achieving lasting peace in the two regions that suffered decades of civil war.

Continued military confrontation between the two country’s armies, The Elders warned, will have catastrophic humanitarian consequences and would further restrict access to civilians in need.

“Military escalation will only take Sudan and South Sudan backwards and undermine the development and peace that the people so desperately need and want,” said the South African Archbishop.

Clashes in the borders areas of Sudan and South Sudan, which heightened in recent weeks, have reportedly displaced about 45,000 civilians, while an additional 100,000 people displaced from Abyei and neighbouring areas have not yet returned because of the continued presence of armed forces.

In Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, The Elders said an estimated 300,000 people have been prevented from planting crops because of fighting and heavy bombardment.

“With the start of the rainy season and large numbers of people short of food, urgent access is needed to deliver aid before roads become impassable,” further notes the statement.

In essence, the group call on all parties to the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile to grant immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to all civilians in need, in line with the joint proposal put forward by the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations.

According to The Elders, however, for the two countries to achieve a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, the 3 April summit initially planned between South Sudan leader Salva Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart in Juba, but later called off, needs to be rescheduled.

Founded in 2007 by former South African President, Nelson Mandela, The Elders’ membership currently comprises of Jimmy Carter, Martti Ahtisaari, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Graça Machel and Mary Robinson as members.

(ST)