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By Julius N. Uma
January 30, 2012 (JUBA) — Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General on Sunday urged leaders in both Sudan and South Sudan to reach an agreement on how to share their oil wealth after series of counter accusations forced the latter to shut down its oil production.
- Ban Ki-moon
Speaking during the 18th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Ki-moon said the UN mission, despite logistical constraints, has succeeded in saving many lives during the recent violence in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.
"Our peacekeepers are doing all they can [do] with what they have. Despite severe logistical constraints, particularly air transport, the mission succeeded in saving many lives during the recent crisis in Jonglei," said the UN Secretary General.
The UN estimates that more than 120,000 people, mainly women and children have been displaced in the ethnic violence that rocked South Sudan’s largest state since December last year. Hundreds have also been killed, several cattle herds raided and properties destroyed.
Speaking in a combination of English and French, Ki Moon urged all AU member states to respect fundamental human rights; specifically citing discrimination based on sexual orientation, which he said had been largely ignored or even sanctioned by many states for far too long.
"Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration," he said.
He also lauded the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it has proven to be an increasingly effective tool in standing against impunity and extending the reach of international human rights law.
The UN, he said, remains committed towards ending the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, which threatens peace prospects in four African countries.
Meanwhile, the AU summit chose Benin’s President, Thomas Boni Yayi the new AU chairman, replacing his Equatorial Guinea counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema. The AU leadership post is held on a one-year rotational basis.
In acceptance speech, according to an AU communiqué, President Yayi underlined priorities of his mandate which includes peace, stability and security. He also urged his peers to strive for more stability and security, reinforce continental integration, and promote infrastructure development to alleviate poverty from the African continent.
(ST).
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