afrol News, 16 July - United Nations is deeply concerned with recruitment and use of child soldiers in the war torn Darfur region.

The newly released report by United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has revealed sluggish progress made in ending five-year conflict, which has killed more than 200 000 people and displaced 2.5 million.

UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon said surprise attack on the Sudanese capital Khartoum in May by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement, had highlighted the two sides' inability to settle their differences at the negotiating table, saying some of the rebels captured children after the attack.

"I am particularly concerned by reports of child soldiers among the JEM combatants in Omdurman, in clear violation of international law," Mr Ban said.

Sudanese fighting groups like rest of African states in conflict, seem to resort to recruitment of child soldiers, a move which UN has been battling for years to ban and free child combatants in rebel camps to return to civilian life.

Mr Ban said UN is currently in negotiations with Khartoum government, pressing for release of children detained during the attack.

Khartoum accuses Chad of backing JEM and has refused to negotiate with either JEM or Chadians since the attack while at the same time, Chad accuses Sudanese government of backing rebels hoping to bring down its government.

"Tensions between Chad and the Sudan and the suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries should also be highlighted as a source of considerable instability in Darfur and volatility on both sides of the border region," Mr Ban said.

To date, nine thousands peacekeepers took over in January from a smaller AU force. UNAMID is mandated to have 26,000 blue helmets, but lack of equipment and resistance from Sudanese government have hampered deployment.

Meanwhile, the call by International Criminal Court for indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on suspicion of masterminding crimes against humanity has fueled tensions between Sudan and international community.

Sudanese had waged a protest and vowed to block all measures by ICC leading to indictment of their president.

President al-Bashir who will become first head of state and first Arab leader to be charged by war crimes tribunal is accused of allowing systematic attacks on civilian in Darfur region since 2003 which has left over 200 000 people dead while 2.5 million were displaced.

If the ICC judges accept Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo's recommendations, a warrant of arrest for Mr Bashir could be expected in October or November.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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