Sudan govt defends violations of Darfur ceasefire agreement

ABUJA, Dec 18, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government on Saturday reacted to reports by the African Union Ceasefire Commission (CFC)accusing it of violating ceasefire agreements in troubled Darfur.

General Festus Okonkwo, the commander of the African Union observer force in Darfur. (Reuters).

CFC Chairman Nigeria’s Gen Festus Okonkwo in a report to a joint Commission on Darfur meeting in Abuja on Friday accused both the government of Sudan and the rebel groups — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLMA) of violations.

But Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Najeb ElKheir Abdelwahab told reporters Saturday in the Nigerian capital Abuja that any violation from the government was only retaliatory and in defense of the helpless citizens of Darfur.

“The government is only being responsive to the citizens,” he said, adding that “we are supposed to protect the people and can not fold our hands while they are being attacked by the rebels.”

He described most of rebels’ attacks as unprovoked, saying that government was committed to restoring peace in Darfur.

“They try to block roads, impede movement, disturb commercial activities and kill humanitarian aid workers. This is what the government is against,” he said.

Quoting the CFC report, the minister said that 70 percent of the violations were traced to the rebels, saying that they refused to confine themselves to areas earmarked for them in the N’djamena agreement.

“They make things very difficult. For every one dollar of food sent to the helpless in Darfur, the government spends four dollar to ensure it reaches the people,” he said.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, saying that the government was of the firm belief that only negotiations could bring peace to Sudan.