August 19, 2016(WIC) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed disappointment that Sudan's warring parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the two areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan States during the last round of negotiations.
United Nation News Center reported that Ban “is disappointed” that no agreement was reached during the 9 to 14 August 2016 talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement issued last night, the Secretary-General has strongly urged all the parties to resume negotiations, abide by the roadmap agreement, and refrain from any attempt to escalate the conflict in Darfur and the two areas.
He also reiterated that there can be “no lasting alternative to a negotiated settlement” and stressed that a cessation of hostilities is “the first, indispensable step” towards achieving this goal.
Ban appreciated the vital role played by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the African Union/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan to bring about a lasting peace in Sudan, the statement said.
The African Union-brokered roadmap for ending conflicts in the country was signed on 8 August 2016 by Sudanese opposition groups.