Jean Ping’s call comes after the armed conflict that broke out between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), on 5 June, 2011.
In a statement released on Monday, Ping called upon both governments of North Sudan and South Sudan, which is set to gain its independence in July, to facilitate humanitarian agency access to the civilian populations in all parts of Southern Kordofan.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes and face hunger and diseases due to fighting, aerial bombardment and the interruption of essential supplies. There are also widespread reports of human rights abuses which are yet to be investigated by the international community.
Evoking international Humanitarian Law, Ping reminded the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/SPLA of their respective obligations under International Humanitarian Law, and called upon them to act immediately to enable assistance to reach the affected population, and for people in distress to be evacuated to safe areas.
“The Chairperson of the Commission calls upon the Parties to engage wholeheartedly in their negotiations towards a political settlement of the conflict in Southern Kordofan, in the talks currently underway, in Addis Ababa, under the facilitation of the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP),” read a statement released by the commission.
Meanwhile, the African body has warned that “there is no military solution to the current political conflict”, and urged both the North and South to agree to a cessation of hostilities.
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