SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CLASHES IN NORTH DARFUR

SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CLASHES IN NORTH DARFUR
New York, Jan 26 2009 2:10PM
Strongly condemning today's hostilities between rebels and Sudanese Armed Forces in North Darfur, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said continued military actions threaten civilian lives and jeopardize political efforts to reach a durable peace.

The clashes today on the outskirts of the city of El Fasher follow fighting earlier this month involving the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Army/ Minni Minawi (SLA/MM).

"The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately cease ongoing hostilities and to abide by their obligations under international law," according to a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3674">statement issued by his spokesperson.

The joint United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur, tasked with protecting civilians and suppressing the bloody conflict in the region, expressed its grave concern over today's "disturbing" events – including explosions, shellings and mortars – in El Fasher, which is also the mission's headquarters.

The sounds of fighter jets and other violence early in the morning spurred rumours in El Fasher that the city was under attack by one of the armed movements and that the Sudanese Armed Forces were repulsing the attack.

Causing fear among the people, reports of a possible attack resulted in the closing of the market, traffic jams and schoolchildren being sent home.

Despite the touring of the city by the region's governor, the situation remains tense.

"I call upon all warring parties to instantly cease hostilities and end this cycle of violence that would only add to the suffering of the people of Darfur," said Rodolphe Adada, the Joint UN-AU Special Representative for Darfur.

Voicing concern for the safety of Darfurians, he cautioned that stepped-up insecurity would thwart the delivery of vital humanitarian aid.

The mission also noted that since the outbreak of fighting on 15 January in Muhajeriya, South Darfur, warring sides have been active near <"http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=888&ctl=Details&mid=1062&ItemID=812">UNAMID camps in the region.

In a press release, it "reminds all parties involved in the fighting of the neutral position of the Mission and that UNAMID is deployed in Darfur to implement its mandated tasks including the protection of civilians."

The deployment of warring factions in the vicinity of UNAMID facilities threatens the security of both the mission's personnel and civilians who have moved to the perimeters of camps seeking safety.

Fighting in Darfur erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen and causing an estimated 300,000 deaths, while forcing some 2.7 million people to flee their homes.
Jan 26 2009 2:10PM
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