Sudan on Friday rejected as ”inappropriate” a resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council giving it one month to rein in militias blamed for atrocities in the Darfur region or face international action.
”The resolution is inappropriate,” said government spokesperson Al-Zahawe Ibrahim Malik, accusing the Security Council of ”disregarding” efforts being made to resolve the crisis by the Sudanese government, the African Union and the Arab League.
The Security Council resolution gives Sudan 30 days to disarm the pro-government Janjaweed militias that have been blamed for most of the atrocities, and carries an implicit threat of international sanctions.
Sudan ”rejects threats and is prepared and capable of defending its people and of confronting conspiracies by the hostile powers and plots by those who are ambitious in its economic resources”, Malik said in a statement.
The UN has called Darfur the world’s worst current humanitarian crisis, with about 50 000 killed and more than one million forced to flee their homes.
The Security Council resolution ”concentrates more on the Janjaweed than on the humanitarian operations or on the rebel militias”, Malik said, adding it does not pay attention to the rebel activities that ”hinder the humanitarian operations in Darfur”.
Malik also said the resolution does not comply with an agreement concluded by Khartoum government and the UN on July 3, in which it pledged to take immediate steps to disarm the militias.
Fighting erupted in Darfur last year when ethnic minority rebels launched an uprising against the Sudanese army and its Janjaweed allies. — Sapa-AFP