§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on incursions by the Janjaweed militia into countries neighbouring Sudan; and what assessment he has made of the Sudanese Government's responsibility for them. [177038]
§ Mr. MullinWe are concerned by reports of incursions by the Janjaweed militias into Chad. We are in regular contact with the Sudanese Government about the situation in Darfur. During the visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister to London on 11 May, my right hon. Friends, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, and I made strong representations to the Foreign Minister about Darfur and in particular the need for the Sudanese Government 309W to act now to rein in the Janjaweed. Whatever the Government's relation to these militias, the Sudanese Government have a responsibility to protect their civilians.
Our Embassy in Khartoum has discussed the conflict in Darfur with the Government of Chad. We have welcomed the role played by the Government of Chad in mediating at the ceasefire talks between the parties to the conflict, and their continued support to the 130,000 Sudanese refugees whom they are currently hosting.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace settlement in the Sudan signed at Naivasha; what help the Government intend to offer in relation to maintaining the peace, with particular reference to Abeyei, the Nuba Mountains and the Southern Blue Nile and Darfur; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the peace settlement for the possible implementation of Sharia law in the south of the country. [177443]
§ Mr. MullinWe welcomed the signing on 26 May of the latest protocols at the Sudan peace talks at Naivasha. These protocols cover power-sharing, the two areas (Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile) and Abyei, and, together with the previously agreed documents, provide the political framework for a comprehensive peace agreement. We are calling on all parties to continue to work towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement can be signed soon. In the expectation of a peace agreement the UK has allocated £35million to Sudan for 2004–05. In addition, we have also allocated £3.5 million from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool.
In respect of nationally enacted legislation, Sharia law will only apply in the states outside Southern Sudan, as stated in the Machakos Protocol of 20 July 2002.
Despite the progress at the Peace Talks in Naivasha, we remain deeply concerned about the situation in Darfur. We have already committed over £18.2 million in response to the crisis there, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development, is currently visiting the region.