Only dialogue can avoid another humanitarian catastrophe
Following recent clashes along the border between Sudan and South Sudan, The Elders have warned of a potential humanitarian crisis and called on the two leaders to return to dialogue.
The Elders are deeply saddened by the violence taking place in Côte d'Ivoire. While former president Laurent Gbagbo must bear primary responsibility for the conflict after he refused to step down following the latest presidential elections, The Elders emphasise that both sides must be held accountable for their actions during the fighting.
The Elders state that only Colonel Gaddafi's departure from power can stop the violent repression in Libya, and urge UN Member States to consider measures to provide immediate protection amd humanitarian assistance to the civilian population.
The Elders urge President Rakapaksa of Sri Lanka to protect the rights of civilians displaced after the government’s defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May, and call on the international community to prioritise the long-term stability of the country.
Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi, Jimmy Carter and Graça Machel, who visited Sudan in 2007 on The Elders' first mission, join the call for states to provide peacekeepers with helicopters in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Chair of The Elders Desmond Tutu announces that he will lead a delegation to Sudan to help strengthen and deepen the framework for assuring a permanent peace in Darfur.