Security Council condemns upsurge of violence in Darfur, Sudan – president

Members of the Security Council today condemned rising violence in Darfur, Sudan, and called for the perpetrators of attacks to be brought to justice.

“We have jointly condemned and expressed concern in the face of the recent upsurge in violence” in Darfur, the Council president for October, Ambassador Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania, told reporters following a closed-door briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Hédi Annabi, on the political, humanitarian and security situation in the troubled region.

Ambassador Motoc cited in particular to attacks perpetrated against civilians and the killing of three peacekeepers and two contractors serving with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) as well as the abduction of other AMIS staff. “That was unacceptable in itself and all the more so in the context of and against the background of peace talks going on in Abuja on a political solution to the conflict in Darfur,” he said.

Parties on the ground were urged to assist in “every way possible” to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of those acts, he stressed.

Members of the Council called on the parties to cooperate with the AU mediation in Abuja and with AMIS. They urged the parties to immediately end acts of violence and restrictions on humanitarian aid and to cooperate with the AU.

Discussions also re-emphasized the determination of the Security Council to apply measures adopted earlier this year imposing a travel ban and assets freeze on those impeding the peace process, committing human rights violations and violating Council mandates, the President said.