UN chief condemns aerial bombardment in Central Darfur

January 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has condemned air strikes carried out by the Sudanese army (SAF) in Central Darfur where fighting has forced civilians to flee the area.

The spokesman for the secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters that Ban was “deeply concerned“ by the escalation of hostilities between the government and the rebel groups in Darfur, adding “at least 36,000 civilians have been displaced in Darfur due to these hostilities”.

“He condemns the reported aerial bombardment and destruction of villages in the Golo locality of Central Darfur State on 27 January,” Dujarric added.

SAF intensified attacks on rebel groups in eastern North Darfur and western Central Darfur in Jebel Marra in a bid to dislodge rebel factions from their positions in the mountainous area.

UN agencies said thousands of civilians moved to several IDPs camps in the region particularly Zamzam in North Darfur and Golo in Central Darfur.

The UN chief urged the warring parties to “exercise maximum restraint, without delay, and fully assume their responsibility to prevent further displacements and suffering of civilian populations”.

He called on the groups to cooperate with hybrid African Union and UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) and aid workers to protect and provide assistance to the civilian population of Darfur.

Earlier this week, UNAMID said it had no access to the operation zones.

Last December, the talks between the government and a joint delegation of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) failed to reach an agreement over a cessation of hostilities.

The SLM faction led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, as well as other SLM-splinter factions are not part of the African Union-mediated talks.

(ST)