France expresses concern over situation in Darfur

Paris, France, Jan 29, 2005 (PANA) – France has expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Darfur, a region in western Sudan.

“France urges the parties to the conflict to show restraint and approach the forthcoming negotiations in Abuja with the spirit that prevailed during negotiations that culminated into the signing of a global and definitive agreement on Southern Sudan on 9 January 2005,” French foreign ministry’s spokesman Hervé Ladsous told journalists here Friday.

According to Quai d’Orsay, by attacking civilians, particularly the recent air raid, Sudanese authorities breached the commitments they made at N’djamena on 8 April 2004 and Abuja on 9 November 2004.

“It evident that the aerial bombardment was carried out by the government side because it is the only one which owns fighter planes,” Ladsous, who also criticised rebel groups in Darfur for attacking civilians, saying they also breached their promises.

“This is our greatest concern once again,” regretted the foreign ministry spokesman, adding that the issue remains pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council and that discussions on the problem were continuing.

“I am not aware of any forthcoming special session such as a report by the (UN) secretariat, but the formula is applicable and it’s not a ritual: the Council remains seized on the issue and is closely monitoring the situation,” he concluded.

Scores of people have reportedly been killed in recent days following an upsurge of violence in Darfur contrary to the pledges made by the belligerents under the agreements reached in N’djamena and Abuja.

The bloodiest incident occurred a week ago when rebels Killed between 24 to 36 people and injured 26 others in an attack against Al-Mallam village in Southern Darfur State.

Two rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) have since February 2003 been fighting Sudanese government troops backed by mainly Arab pro-government militiamen known as “Janjaweed”.

The conflict has killed about 70,000 people and rendered 1.6 million other Darfur inhabitants homeless, while 250,000 have fled into exile in Eastern Chad. The rebels took up arms to protest what they regard as Khartoum’s unequal allocation of economic resources to their impoverished region.