The United States of America today voiced concern on the alarming threat on violence in Southern Kordofan, particularly the greater violence between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Northern Sector (SPLM-N) in Southern Kordofan State.
On her statement on the worsening violence in Souther Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile, Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland notes that any such fighting will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region and lead to more civilian casualties.
She says conflict in Southern Kordofan and neighboring Blue Nile is also fuelling mistrust between Sudan and South Sudan.
“The and the United States is deeply concerned about the potential for a resumption of direct conflict between the North and South.” -Ms Nuland
Rather than risk the potential for war, both countries should prepare in good faith for the summit planned for early April between President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Ms. Nuland stressed.
The United States urgently calls on the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N to agree on a cessation of hostilities.
The United States reiterates its demand that the SAF end aerial bombardments of civilian areas and immediately allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.
The US government is also demanding that South Sudan end any military support for the SPLM-N and work with the Government of Sudan on ways jointly to bring peace to the border region.
“We hope that the upcoming summit will focus on this objective along with issues such as oil and nationalities.” -Ms. Nuland
The United States stronglys condemn all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and demand that those responsible be held accountable for their actions, Ms. Nuland underlined.
She notes that the renewed fighting in North Darfur among SAF, rebel groups, and paramilitary forces further deepens the crisis in that region and threatens the progress made since the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July 2011.
“We are deeply concerned about the displacement of civilians from their home areas.” -Ms. Nuland
The United States urges the Government of Sudan, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur, and the newly established Darfur Regional Authority to address this situation urgently.
On June 2011, the United Nations human rights office had received “extremely worrying” reports of civilian casualties and massive displacement of people, amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Sudanese state of Southern Kordofan, where forces of the northern and southern governments are engaged in fighting.
The northern army known as the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) is reported to be engaged in fighting with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of Southern Sudan, the semi-autonomous region that is due to become an independent State on July 2011. Clashes have taken place in the Southern Kordofan capital of Kadugli and surrounding areas.
