Sudanese president: Darfur situation getting better
KHARTOUM, Aug 03, 2004 (Xinhua) — Sudanese President Omar Hassan al- Bashir said Tuesday that the situation in Sudan’s western region of Darfur is improving, with thousands of displaced refugees having returned to their homes.
The Sudanese government has prepared enough food for these refugees until this October, al-Bashir told the Dubai-based al- Arabiya satellite TV.
The president also reiterated his government’s determination and sincerity to resolve the Darfur crisis.
It is the obligation of the Sudanese government to restore peace and security in the Darfur region and to protect the local residents, al-Bashir said, adding that his government will not wait until a UN resolution to take measures to protect its civilians.
Al-Bashir said Sudan has agreed to allow international observers to enter the Darfur region to monitor the cease-fire agreement between the conflicting parties. It has also given green light to the African Union to send a small number of troops to the region to protect African observers there.
But the president stressed that his country will not allow military intervention by any foreign country through sending troops to the troubled region.
Darfur is considered as the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. It has been plagued by a 17-month conflict between the Sudanese government forces, two rebel groups formed by local black tribes and Arab militia known as the Janjaweed.
The conflict has left up to 10,000 people dead and over 1 million displaced since the revolt began in February 2003.
The UN Security Council on Friday gave Khartoum 30 days to disarm the Arab militia, which has been blamed for atrocities in Darfur, or face international sanctions.
But the Sudanese government lashed out at the UN resolution on Sunday, saying the government would abide by the agreement it had signed with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in early July, which set 90 days to disarm the Janjaweed militia.
Annan said, however, the agreement was a 90-day humanitarian emergency plan, which was “a separate issue from the government’s responsibility to protect its people.”