10 October 2005

(Violence will not boost position of any party at peace talks, says State's Ereli)

The United States strongly condemns both the recent attack on African Union (AU) mission personnel on October 8 in the southern Darfur region of Sudan and the detainment of AU personnel in northern Darfur on October 9, says State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.

"Violence will not bolster the negotiating position of any party in the Abuja [Nigeria] peace talks, will not earn any group enhanced contacts with the United States, and will not gain any faction a seat at the negotiating table," Ereli said in an October 10 press release.

He cited two Darfur rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and a faction of the Justice and Equality Movement, as responsible for the attacks.

AU mediators and parties from Khartoum and the rebels fighting the Sudanese government agreed October 4 to resume the talks in Abuja, Nigeria, after they had been stalled for a week. (See related article.)

The United States hopes the AU-sponsored talks will provide a lasting solution to the crisis in Darfur, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives in the past three years and has displaced up to 2 million people.

The deputy spokesman also noted senior U.S. diplomats will travel to Sudan in the next two weeks to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

For additional information see Darfur Humanitarian Emergency.

Following is the text of the statement:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
October 10, 2005
2005/931

STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Sudan: Darfur Violence

The United States strongly condemns the attack on African Union mission personnel on October 8 near Menawashi, South Darfur.  Our sympathies are with the families of the Nigerian peacekeepers and local Sudanese drivers killed in the incident.  The United States equally condemns the detainment of African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) personnel, including a U.S. citizen, near Tine, North Darfur on October 9. 

Initial indications point to two Darfur rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and a faction of the Justice and Equality Movement, respectively, as responsible for these attacks.   These attacks run counter to the rebels' professed interest in negotiating a political settlement in Darfur.  Violence will not bolster the negotiating position of any party in the Abuja peace talks, will not earn any group enhanced contacts with the United States, and will not gain any faction a seat at the negotiating table. 

The United States reiterates its unequivocal support for the African Union with respect to its mission in Darfur and its mediation of the Abuja talks.  We are in contact with leaders of the Sudanese government and Darfur rebel groups to urge them to stop the violence and return to the peace talks in Abuja.  The United States is also in contact with the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, and other governments in the region to coordinate our efforts to end the violence in Darfur. 

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer and Special Representative for Sudan Roger Winter will both travel to Sudan in the next two weeks to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to push for resolution of the crisis in Darfur in order to help build a stable and unified Sudan.

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