Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store says Sudan must comply with international humanitarian law, with regard to prisoners of war. A press release from the Foreign Office points out that a Governor in Sudan has reportedly encouraged soldiers not to take prisoners when they enter enemy territory. This is a violation of humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, Foreign Minister Store says. Mr Store has 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, Store said.

 

Since last summer, an armed conflict has raged between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement  North (SPLMN) 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 SPLMN to allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in South Kordofan, said Mr Store, and added that the conflict can only be resolved politically.

(NRK/Norwaypost)