US urges Sudanese rivals to cease hostilities, condemns attacks on Darfur peacekeepers
May 8, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – The United States condemned recent armed clashes in Sudan’s conflict zones blaming it for the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
“The United States is gravely concerned about the continuing fighting in Sudan’s Darfur region and Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states,” said a statement by deputy US department of state acting spokesperson Jeff Rathke.
“Actions by the Sudanese government and armed opposition groups, especially following the return of some elements of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), have displaced countless civilians this year and exacerbated an already serious humanitarian crisis”.
Heavy fighting erupted on several axes in South Darfur between government forces and fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in al-Nackara and Goz-Dingo areas.
The Sudanese army had claimed that the rebel forces entered the state from South Sudan which is accused by Khartoum of harboring insurgents.
JEM had issued a rare statement afterwards acknowledging defeat in the South Darfur battles.
Two days ago, Sudan’s minister of Defense Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein announced from the state of South Kordofan the continuation of military offensive against rebel forces until they are “cleansed” from all areas.
“We urge the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), all other armed groups, and the Government of Sudan to cease hostilities, to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular with regard to the protection of civilians, and to ensure safe, timely, and unhindered access for aid organizations as called for by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)” the US statement reads.
“A political solution is essential to attaining sustainable peace in Sudan. We urge Sudanese government and opposition leaders to take the bold steps needed to secure peace for all Sudanese. Years of fighting have made clear that there is no military solution to the conflicts in Sudan”.
The US also backed the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in its dispute with Khartoum over events that took place last month in South Darfur area of Kass.
“We condemn the recent attacks against the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) peacekeepers in Kass, South Darfur state. The UNSC has made clear that UNAMID is authorized to defend itself against attacks, as occurred in this incident”.
The US urged Khartoum to bring culprits to justice and take “all necessary action to prevent future attacks”.
“The Government of Sudan has the responsibility to defuse tensions in the area and prevent future attacks on UNAMID personnel”.
Four persons, according to UNAMID, or six people as claimed by Sudanese authorities were killed and five others were injured from the Zaghawa tribe by UNAMID peacekeepers during clashes in Kass last month.
The joint mission says the gunmen attacked the patrol of Nigerian soldiers at the sunset on April 23 and “made off with one of the Mission’s vehicles after shooting the driver”. But the tribesmen insist they were going after stolen cattle when they encountered the peacekeepers.
UNAMID further said that a second patrol travelling from Nyala was attacked by the gunmen near the their base in Kass on the morning after.
Sudan accused UNAMID’s headquarters in Sudan, New York and Addis Ababa of seeking to cover up what it called the “heinous crime” committed by its troops in Kass, saying they sought to criminalise the innocent victims instead of offering condolences to their families and the Sudanese government.
Both the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, and the head of the of the African Union commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, underscored the peacekeepers have been attacked by the armed gunmen, saying they returned fire in self-defence.
(ST)