Obama calls for ceasefire in Sudan

President Obama is formally urging for a ceasefire in Sudan, having recorded a message Tuesday that was distributed by Voice of America:

There is no military solution.

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan must live up to their responsibilities. The Government of Sudan must prevent a further escalation of this crisis by ceasing its military actions immediately, including aerial bombardments, forced displacements and campaigns of intimidation.

The urging comes days after the U.N. Security Council condemned the violence in the disputed Sudanese region of Abyei and called on the government in the north to pull out its troops.

The north has occupied Abyei for more than three weeks. Both sides claim the territory in anticipation of southern Sudan's planned secession from the north on July 9.

Full Obama statement after the jump:

The United States is deeply concerned by the crisis that is unfolding in Sudan, including the fighting in Southern Kordofan and the assaults on innocent civilians. So along with our allies and partners in Africa and around the world, the United States is working to end the violence and to protect innocent civilians.

There is no military solution.

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan must live up to their responsibilities. The Government of Sudan must prevent a further escalation of this crisis by ceasing its military actions immediately, including aerial bombardments, forced displacements and campaigns of intimidation.

Negotiations are now underway that offer a path to peace. Both sides must agree to end the violence; to allow free movement of aid workers and relief supplies to help those in need; to fulfill their commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to resolve their differences peacefully.
Today, I want to speak directly to Sudanese leaders: you must know that if you fulfill your obligations and choose peace, the United States will take the steps we have pledged toward normal relations. However, those who flout their international obligations will face more pressure and isolation, and they will be held accountable for their actions.

In three weeks, after decades of civil wars that have killed millions and turned millions more into refugees, South Sudan will gain its independence and become the world’s newest nation, and the people of both north and south will have the opportunity to move toward the promise of greater peace and prosperity.

The Sudanese people have come too far, and sacrificed too much, to see their dreams of a better future slip from their grasp. Now is the time for Sudanese leaders to show the courage and vision that true leadership demands. Now is the time for Sudanese leaders, north and south, to choose peace.