British ambassador fears growing insecurity in southern Sudan

KHARTOUM, July 29, 2004 (dpa) — The British Ambassador to Sudan, William Patey expressed concern Thursday about insecurity in southern Sudan after attacks by pro-government militia earlier this week.

The attacks occurred near the town of Malakal in the Upper Nile region of southern Sudan.

Patey said the lack of progress in the peace talks to end decades of civil war between north and south Sudan was a significant setback.

The peace process is taking longer than expected, he said, adding that Britain would continue negotiating with the Sudanese government to bring about a settlement for Sudan.

More than two million people have been killed in Africa’s longest civil war which began in 1983, when southern forces rebelled against the government of the then President Gaffer Mohammed Numeiri.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Patey said British and European Union officials who visited the Upper Nile region had discussed having the government and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) abide by the Cessation of Hostilities agreement signed in 2002 by both parties.

“We need to enforce the Cessation of Hostilities in the region”, he said calling the situation as “very complex”.

Commenting on the situation in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, Patey said the Sudanese government has made little progress in the security situation in the region where 34 non-governmental organizations are striving to assist the needy.

Patey said that the British government will support sanctions expected to be imposed on both the Darfur rebels and the Janjaweed, pro-government Arab militias.