G7 Calls for Implementation of Jeddah Declaration and Establishment of Monitoring Mechanism

Rome – Sudanhorizon – Agencies

Following their meetings in Italy, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries “Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America” and the High Representative of the European Union issued a statement calling for the full implementation of the Jeddah Declaration and the establishment of a mechanism to verify implementation.

According to the statement of the group that concluded its meetings held in Fiuggi-Anagni, Italy, on November 25 and 26, it urged “the warring parties to implement their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration, and we urge the establishment of a strong and transparent monitoring and verification mechanism to protect civilians.”

The group also stressed “the need for all external actors” to stop fueling the conflict, in line with the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the Paris Conference, and to respect the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations on Darfur.

The ministers said they noted that after a year and a half of fighting, the civil war in Sudan has left a heavy toll in human lives and infrastructure.

The statement added that the G7 calls for an immediate end to the violence. They said their countries have particularly noted the impact of the crisis on women and girls, and the statement condemned the atrocities committed in the war, including abductions and sexual violence. According to the statement, the group said they note “with grave concern that the UN Fact-Finding Mission has found reasonable grounds to believe that the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias have committed crimes against humanity, including ethnic persecution and forced displacement of populations.”