Sudan’s SPLM-N signs mine ban: Geneva Call

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N) on Thursday committed to ban the use of anti-personnel (AP) mines and destroy all its stockpiles, a Geneva-based advocacy group has announced. A SPLM-N delegation led by its deputy chairman Abdel Aziz Al Hilu and the secretary-general Yasir Arman signed a deed of commitment with the Geneva Call group in Switzerland, agreeing to adhere to a total ban on anti-personnel mines and to cooperate in mine action. In line with the signed deed “the SPLM-N agrees to prohibit the use, production and transfer of AP mines, to cooperate in humanitarian mine action activities and to destroy its stockpiles”, Geneva Call said. The rebel group, which claims to control areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, accepts that Geneva Call and other independent groups “will monitor and verify its compliance with the signed commitment”. “In compliance with our pledge, we will destroy all AP mines in our possession as soon as possible. These mines were captured during military operations,” Al Hilu said following the signing of the commitment. “We are also ready to cooperate in other fields of humanitarian mine action and call upon the international community to assist us in this endeavour”, he added. AP mines have reportedly been used in the two states, where the rebel group has been fighting against the Sudanese army (SAF) and government militias since June 2011. Recent press reports mentioned the death of civilians in the areas surrounding Abu Karshola in South Kordofan, where the two parties clashed during April and May of this year. Sudan Tribune reports that Geneva Call president Elisabeth Decrey Warner commended the SPLM-N for its humanitarian commitment, underlining that “every time a mine is destroyed or not laid, innocent lives are saved”. Geneva Call said that they are also in dialogue with the SPLM-N on other humanitarian issues, notably the protection of children in armed conflict. Since 2000, Geneva Call has been engaging armed non-state actors to seek their compliance with international humanitarian norms. “The deeds of commitment are a set of documents that mirror international treaties and allow armed non-state actors to declare their adherence to humanitarian standards, as these actors cannot sign international treaties,” the organisation says. File photo: An example of an anti-personnel mine (UN Photo)