Sudan must comply with international humanitarian law

OSLO, Norway, April 5, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A Governor in Sudan has encouraged soldiers not to take prisoners when they enter enemy territory. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “This is a violation of humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.”

Mr Støre has today requested the Norwegian Ambassador in Khartoum to raise the statements made by the Governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, with the Sudanese authorities. “The Embassy will, on my instructions, express our concern about the situation in South Kordofan, and make it absolutely clear that Norway expects humanitarian law to be complied with at all times,” he said.

Since last summer, an armed conflict has raged between the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement – North (SPLM–N) and the Sudanese army in South Kordofan, Sudan. This conflict has affected a huge number of civilians, who are now in need of humanitarian help.

“Norway urges the Sudanese Government and SPLM–N to allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in South Kordofan,” said Mr Støre, and added that the conflict can only be resolved politically.