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18/11/2004
No time to lose in resolving Sudan's long nightmare, says Annan
There is no time to waste in making efforts to end Sudan's long nightmare, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has told a special session of the security council.
The council was meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in an attempt to give "final impetus" to peace talks between rebel factions and the Sudanese government being held in the south of the country today.
The delegates heard that it was "high time to conclude the peace talks" being held in Naivasha, Kenya, between the Khartoum government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Army. If the peace talks are concluded successfully, it could lead to the formation of a new North-South coalition government with a new army drawing in the SPLM.
Acknowledged by the UN to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis, civil strife in Sudan has forced 1.45 million people from their homes, and a further 200,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Chad.
Pro-government militias stand accused of killing and raping thousands of villagers after rebel groups took up arms against the government last year.
At the start of the two-day session, Mr Annan said: “The terrible situation in Darfur has been brought about mainly by deliberate acts of violence against civilians, including widespread killing and rape."
He added: "When crimes on such a scale are being committed, and a sovereign state appears unable or unwilling to protect its own citizens, a grave responsibility falls on the international community, and specifically on this Council."
The Secretary General also highlighted the financial cost of turmoil in the country – the allocation resources has been paralysed, foreign aid has been discouraged, and both Sudanese and foreign investors have been scared off.
“The effects of delay are felt not only in the south, but elsewhere too, as conflict spreads to more parts of the country. The devastating conflict in Darfur is glaring evidence of this,” Mr Annan added.
The international humanitarian organisation, Human Rights Watch, today called for accountability over human rights abuses to be included in the peace deal as Sudanese authorities had acted with impunity during their "ongoing atrocities in Darfur".
“Unless they are held accountable for abuses in the South, the Sudanese authorities will continue to believe they can get away with murder in Darfur,” said Jemera Rone, Sudan researcher for Human Rights Watch.
“There’s still time for UN Security Council members meeting in Nairobi to insist that the final peace agreement includes accountability for past abuses and protections against future ones,” he added.
(gmcg/sp)
The council was meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in an attempt to give "final impetus" to peace talks between rebel factions and the Sudanese government being held in the south of the country today.
The delegates heard that it was "high time to conclude the peace talks" being held in Naivasha, Kenya, between the Khartoum government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Army. If the peace talks are concluded successfully, it could lead to the formation of a new North-South coalition government with a new army drawing in the SPLM.
Acknowledged by the UN to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis, civil strife in Sudan has forced 1.45 million people from their homes, and a further 200,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Chad.
Pro-government militias stand accused of killing and raping thousands of villagers after rebel groups took up arms against the government last year.
At the start of the two-day session, Mr Annan said: “The terrible situation in Darfur has been brought about mainly by deliberate acts of violence against civilians, including widespread killing and rape."
He added: "When crimes on such a scale are being committed, and a sovereign state appears unable or unwilling to protect its own citizens, a grave responsibility falls on the international community, and specifically on this Council."
The Secretary General also highlighted the financial cost of turmoil in the country – the allocation resources has been paralysed, foreign aid has been discouraged, and both Sudanese and foreign investors have been scared off.
“The effects of delay are felt not only in the south, but elsewhere too, as conflict spreads to more parts of the country. The devastating conflict in Darfur is glaring evidence of this,” Mr Annan added.
The international humanitarian organisation, Human Rights Watch, today called for accountability over human rights abuses to be included in the peace deal as Sudanese authorities had acted with impunity during their "ongoing atrocities in Darfur".
“Unless they are held accountable for abuses in the South, the Sudanese authorities will continue to believe they can get away with murder in Darfur,” said Jemera Rone, Sudan researcher for Human Rights Watch.
“There’s still time for UN Security Council members meeting in Nairobi to insist that the final peace agreement includes accountability for past abuses and protections against future ones,” he added.
(gmcg/sp)
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08 April 2004
Action needed in Sudan to prevent another Rwanda: Annan
Ten years after more than 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by their fellow countrymen, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for action to stop human rights abuses in Sudan.
Action needed in Sudan to prevent another Rwanda: Annan
Ten years after more than 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by their fellow countrymen, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for action to stop human rights abuses in Sudan.
07 January 2004
Foreign Secretary welcomes Sudanese peace accord
The Foreign Secretary has welcomed the latest stage of peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The accord on wealth-sharing, which was signed in Naivasha, Kenya, today, represented a step closer to the implementation of a permanent peace process following the 20-year civil war.
Foreign Secretary welcomes Sudanese peace accord
The Foreign Secretary has welcomed the latest stage of peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The accord on wealth-sharing, which was signed in Naivasha, Kenya, today, represented a step closer to the implementation of a permanent peace process following the 20-year civil war.
05 August 2004
Sudan's militia must be disarmed - there are 'no excuses', says Annan
Sudan has been warned that there can be "no confusion or no excuses" for not quickly bringing to a close the murderous outrages carried out by government-backed militias in the northern Darfur region. And while there has been progress on humanitarian access to remote Darfur, Khartoum has “much more” to do on improving security for the 1.
Sudan's militia must be disarmed - there are 'no excuses', says Annan
Sudan has been warned that there can be "no confusion or no excuses" for not quickly bringing to a close the murderous outrages carried out by government-backed militias in the northern Darfur region. And while there has been progress on humanitarian access to remote Darfur, Khartoum has “much more” to do on improving security for the 1.
17 June 2004
Annan to visit Sudan over humanitarian crisis
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced plans to travel to Sudan, after the world body earlier this week accused the Sudanese government of being responsible for the slaughter of dozens of civilians in villages in the Darfur region of the country.
Annan to visit Sudan over humanitarian crisis
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced plans to travel to Sudan, after the world body earlier this week accused the Sudanese government of being responsible for the slaughter of dozens of civilians in villages in the Darfur region of the country.
30 July 2004
Action will be taken if militias are not disarmed, UN warns Sudan
The UN Security Council has voted today to take action against Sudan if it does not disarm the Arab militias accused of "indiscriminate murders, rapes and other attacks" against civilians in the troubled Darfur region. The vote, which saw two of the 15 members abstaining, has demanded that Sudan bring the leaders of Janjaweed militia to justice.
Action will be taken if militias are not disarmed, UN warns Sudan
The UN Security Council has voted today to take action against Sudan if it does not disarm the Arab militias accused of "indiscriminate murders, rapes and other attacks" against civilians in the troubled Darfur region. The vote, which saw two of the 15 members abstaining, has demanded that Sudan bring the leaders of Janjaweed militia to justice.
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