The ministers show a “firm commitment” to support African countries in the face of terrorism and instability
They also condemn the advance of the M23 rebels in the DRC and call for international support for the fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia.
18 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The G7 foreign ministers have condemned the clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while calling for an end to hostilities and a return to negotiations in the country.
“We strongly condemn the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which threatens the safety of the Sudanese civilian population and undermines efforts to restore the democratic transition in Sudan,” read a joint statement.
“We urge the parties to end hostilities immediately and without preconditions,” they have requested before asking “all actors to renounce violence, return to negotiations and take active measures to reduce tensions and guarantee the safety of all civilians, including diplomatic and humanitarian personnel”.
This Monday, and for the third consecutive day, there have been intense fighting between the two parties to the conflict in the country’s capital, Khartoum, as well as in other points of the Sudanese geography. After the outbreak of the conflict, the UN, which has indicated that it will try to stop the fighting for humanitarian reasons, has estimated the dead at 185 and the wounded at 1,800.
“COMMITMENT TO AFRICA”
The ministers, in turn, have shown their support for a greater representation of African countries at the international level and have stressed their “firm commitment” to their governments “to address the underlying conditions that foster the spread of terrorism, extremism violence and instability” on the continent.
“We are seriously concerned about the growing presence of Russian-affiliated Wagner Group mercenaries,” as well as “their destabilizing impact and human rights abuses.
Thus, they have urged “all actors to respect international Human Rights standards and International Humanitarian Law”, have reiterated their call for “all those responsible to be held accountable”, and have called for “safe and unimpeded” access. for humanitarian actors.
HORN OF AFRICA: HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
The G7 foreign ministers have also stressed the urgency of reinforcing peace in the Horn of Africa and addressing serious humanitarian needs.
On the one hand, they have “welcomed the positive developments” of the ceasefire agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, praising the African Union for its mediation.
“We call on both parties to maintain their commitment to fully implement the agreement, including unimpeded access for international human rights monitors.”
On the other hand, they have reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “We condemn the advance of the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group, sanctioned by the UN, which aggravates an extreme humanitarian situation,” the text reads.
“All armed groups must immediately cease all violent acts and disarm,” they insisted, adding that the M23 must “put an end to any new advance and withdraw from all the territories it controls.
They have also requested international support from Somalia’s president, Hasan Sheikh Mohamud, in the fight against terrorists from the Al Shabaab group.
INSTABILITY IN WEST AFRICA
They have also expressed their concern about the spread of terrorist threats and activities towards the coastal countries of West Africa, while they have praised the efforts of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for helping to protect the civilian population “in the context of political and security constraints on the mission.
“We recognize the need to improve the responsiveness of governments to the needs of citizens and the importance of free and fair elections, we call for the comprehensive application of the letters of transition in countries that are on the path of the constitutional order”, continues the letter.
