Sudan calls on UNSC to sanction rebels, claims ethnic-based killings committed
May 2, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the international community to impose crippling sanctions on rebels who are part of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) that launched several attacks over the weekend in the states of north and south Kordofan.
Awad said this included the use of citizens as human shields, killing of children and rape of women noting that these findings will be submitted to competent authorities for action.
The Sudanese foreign ministry on its end claimed that courts-martial established by the rebels during their takeover of these towns led to summary executions based on ethnicity.
In its statement the ministry said that 7,000 families were displaced calling this a violation of international humanitarian law which warrants UNSC condemnation of these “terrorist” acts which pose a threat to regional peace and security.
Sudan’s diplomatic body described attacks on civilians this as a violation of UNSC resolution 2046 which calls on Khartoum and Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) to negotiate and fix the humanitarian situation.
In a related issue the Sudanese presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie said the rebels’ attacks aimed at terrorizing civilians and “blow out the candle” of religion in the country.
The mayor of Umm Rawaba town al-Sharif Fadil accused today “fifth column and lurkers” of taking advantage of the chaos caused by the rebels attack to set government offices and markets on fire.
Fadil said that authorities have gathered their names and political affiliations.
But residents told Agence France Presse (AFP) that this week about 300 youths stoned a convoy carrying North Kordofan state governor Mirghani Hussein Zaki al-Din and federal Electricity Minister Osama Abdullah Mohammed.
“Where were you yesterday?” witnesses said protesters shouted after the governor visited the homes of people who died in the unrest.
Youths then set fire to local government buildings, said witnesses. Residents also complained that the town, the second largest in North Kordofan, had been left undefended when insurgents briefly occupied it on Saturday.
Fadil asserted that work is underway to quickly undo the damage to the town’s infrastructure caused by the attack particularly the electricity and water services.
The mayor called the rebels attack as a publicity stunt that cannot be repeated because they are under intense fire from the army.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Sudanese officials vowed to eradicate the rebels in the coming weeks amid reports of intense military buildup.
(ST)