German Minister of State Pieper condemns violent clashes between the Sudan and South Sudan

BONN, Germany, April 13, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The German Government condemns the latest violent clashes between the Sudan and South Sudan. It calls on both parties to cease hostilities immediately and unconditionally and to refrain from all armed attacks on each other's territory. The German Government particularly condemns the occupation of Heglig by South Sudanese forces and calls for their immediate withdrawal. It likewise calls on the Sudan to stop its air strikes against South Sudan.

Minister of State Cornelia Pieper issued the following statement today (12 April):

The German Government calls on both sides to resume the negotiations in Addis Ababa under African Union mediation on all outstanding issues regarding the secession, without delay and without preconditions.

In particular, we call on the rebel groups operating in the Republic of the Sudan and in the Republic of South Sudan to cease all hostilities, to seek ways of resolving their differences peacefully and to engage in political dialogue.

The German Government supports the mediation efforts of the African Union, and in particular the AU High Level Implementation Panel. Germany will also continue to support the UN missions UNAMID, UNIFSFA and UNMISS in their efforts to keep the peace in the region.