French NGOs call for arms embargo on Sudan

PARIS, France, Nov 19, 2004 (PANA) — Nine French NGOs have called for the imposition of an “immediate” arms embargo on Sudan, a country in the grips of two civil conflicts.

In a joint statement issued here Thursday, the NGOs also asked for a ban on Sudan’s oil exports, accusing the Khartoum
government of “scorched-earth policy in the Darfur”.

The statement coincided with the UN Security Council 18-19
November meeting on the Sudanese crises held in the Kenyan
capital, Nairobi.

The French groups also requested the strengthening of the African Union (AU) observer mission in Darfur, Sudan’s western region, where a “serious” humanitarian crisis has been ongoing for months.

The NGOs called for “pressure” on the Sudanese government to
disarm its militias and exclude then from the tasks related to security in displaced people camps in the region.

The NGOs suggested that African countries send more troops under the AU observer mission with an extended mandate to protect the civilian population.

Le Comité catholique contre la faim et pour le développement’
(CCFD), Vigilance-Soudan, Justice et Paix-France, Action
catholique contre la torture (ACT)-France, le Comité Soudan et le Mouvement contre le racisme pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP), le Secours catholique and Survie et Aircrige, signed the statement.