UN gives Khartoum, Juba 48 hours to halt hostilities

The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution giving Sudan and South Sudan 48 hours to halt hostilities or face potential sanctions With Russia and China joining the growing calls for a halt to the growing border conflict, the 15-member council gave strong backing to African Union efforts to halt violence and get peace negotiations started. Russia and China had opposed talk of sanctions during negotiations on the resolution. The US-drafted resolution calls on the neighbors, which separated last year, to “immediately cease all hostilities” and withdraw troops to their own territory. It says they must give a written commitment within 48 hours to the African Union and the Security Council. The council ordered the two sides to start peace talks within two weeks under the auspices of African Union mediators. The resolution threatens “additional measures” under Article 41 of the UN Charter — which allows for non-military sanctions — if either side fails. US ambassador Susan Rice said Sudan and South Sudan have a long record of “promises made and promises broken.” Sudan and South Sudan separated in July last year and tensions have quickly risen since then — with no border agreed nor an accord on how to share revenue from oil reserves which straddle the two sides.