WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, October 21, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
Press Statement
John Kirby
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 20, 2015
The United States welcomes the Sudan Revolutionary Front’s October 18, 2015 declaration of a six-month unilateral cessation of hostilities beginning at midnight on October 21 in Darfur and the states of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.
We urge the Government of Sudan to build on its own stated commitment by also declaring a unilateral cessation of hostilities for the same time period and covering the same areas. We encourage both the Government of Sudan and the SRF to work under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel to translate their cessation of hostilities declarations into a sustainable end to Sudan’s conflicts, initially by ensuring a cessation of hostilities is properly monitored by a neutral third party. If respected by all parties to the conflict, a cessation of hostilities will help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Sudanese citizens affected by the conflicts in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile. To that end, we call on both parties in conjunction with the UN to finalize the modalities by which humanitarian assistance will be delivered to people in need.
A true cessation of hostilities will contribute to a genuine dialogue to address the underlying causes of the armed conflicts that have plagued Sudan for far too long. There is no military solution to Sudan’s conflicts. Further fighting only increases the suffering of the Sudanese people. The United States calls on all parties to the conflicts in Sudan to seize this opportunity to end the wars and begin a path towards lasting peace.
