Darfur News Brief: Oct. 13, 2006
Genocide Intervention NetworkHave a Hand in Stopping Genocide
Hundreds were wounded or captured when violence between rebels and the government of Sudan erupted on Oct. 7 near the border with Chad. Meanwhile, international organizations and leaders of Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, France, Germany and others are increasing pressure on Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir with appeals to allow a UN peacekeeping force into the Darfur region. The International Criminal Court is continuing its investigations in Darfur with considerable difficulty due to instability, while the African Union announced a new dialogue initiative to improve the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Situation on the Ground
Intense fighting between the National Redemption Front rebel group, which has not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the government of Sudan began on Saturday near Sudan's border with Chad, wounding or capturing hundreds of rebel and government troops. Both sides blame each other for initiating the clash.
UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis said the agency was concerned about the close vicinity of the fighting to the Oure Cassoni refugee camp, located in Chad, five kilometers from the border. UNHCR will be surveying new sites available for an "urgent" relocation of the two camps.
Analysts warn that the continued violence near the border between Sudan and Chad threatens to destablize the entire region as well as relations between the two countries who only recently re-opened their borders.
On Monday, the fighting begun on Saturday spilled over into eastern Chad. The Sudanese government says 103 Sudanese soldiers were taken by the government of Chad after crossing the border, a charge Chad denies. Sudan subsequently accused Chad of providing support to National Redemption Front rebels.
Khartoum's troops have suffered heavy casualties in recent weeks, driven back in some areas despite the arrival of 20,000 additional soldiers into Darfur.
Two Darfurian refugees, girls aged 12 and 15, fought back against an attempted rape near a refugee camp in Ardamada. A dozen masked and armed men attacked four Médecins Sans Frontières aid workers in Darfur on Sept. 11. Three workers were beaten and given death threats and one female staff member was sexually harassed. UN agencies condemned increased attacks on women and girls in Darfur and reminded the Sudanese government of its obligation to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
The United Nation Children's Fund estimates that right now, 80 children under age 5 die each day due to malnutrition, disease, and poor living conditions in Darfur.
The World Food Programme said the number of people not reached by food aid has dropped from 470,000 in July to 224,000 in September. Among this number are 139,000, "who have gone without food aid for four months." Insecurity has been a major problem for the WFP. A spokesperson said WFP drivers "are being harassed, sometimes dragged out, beaten up" because "food convoys represent a lot of money to some of those armed groups." An initiative in South Darfur, "Food for Seed Protection" will aid 200,000 farmers in surviving the coming "hunger season."
Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed journalists on the situation in Darfur, Sudan stating that violence and insecurity are escalating. Because Sudanese militias are now better armed and equipped, "they are much better armed, they are more brutal than ever and their potential to do bad is bigger than ever," said Egeland.
The "Sudan Humanitarian Overview," a report released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported an increase in attacks on aid workers and an "atmosphere of fear and insecurity" in camps for internally displaced peoples. A report by the UN Security Council documented violations of the arms embargo by all parties in Darfur, including the Sudanese government. Insurgents from Chad too have broken the agreement while reportedly joining forces with the Sudanese government.
The UN human rights agency has urged the government of Sudan to launch an investigation of August militia attacks targeting 45 villages in South Darfur. The UN human rights chief said "several hundred" civilians may have died in these late-August militia attacks, a much higher number than originally estimated.
The Proposed UN Transfer
In a joint UN-AU letter to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, UN support of AU forces in Darfur was assessed at about 200 UN military and civilian staff. The AU is waiting for a formal response from Sudan on when this UN support team will be permitted to deploy to the Darfur region.
Stating its "grave concern" over Sudan's continued refusal of UN peacekeepers, the Security Council extended the timeline for the mission through the end of next April. The African Union has extended its own mission in Darfur until the end of 2006.
The government of Sudan staunchly refuses the UN force. In an interview, the deputy leader of the ruling National Congress Party, Ibrahim Omar, stated that if the SPLM, the only rebel group to sign May's peace agreement, accepts "invading" UN forces, "there will be no national unity government and the Naivasha agreements will cease to exist." Beshir has himself warned that he would lead a jihad against any UN troops in Darfur.
Abdul Rahman Khalil Ahmad, Sudan's charge d'affairs, said "the US and UK are after controlling our country," and that Sudan would continue to resist a UN force, even in the face of sanctions. Beshir has also rejected the Arab League's initial proposal offering to dispatch a UN force made up entirely of Arab and Muslim soldiers.
US Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios left on Thursday for Khartoum, where he will press Beshir to accept a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. He is planned to visit Khartoum, the Darfur region and the southern city of Juba, despite recently announced restrictions on US travel within Sudan.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in an address at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, acknowledged that genocide might be occurring in Darfur, and urged the international community to act. "It is not in the interest of Sudan nor in the interest of Africa, nor indeed in the interest of the world, for us all to stand by, fold our hands and see genocide in Darfur," Obasanjo said. Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Joy Ogwu was in Khartoum for two days this week to discuss the situation in Darfur.
Obasanjo and the presidents of Gabon and Senegal hope to persuade Beshir to accept an international peacekeeping force when they travel to Khartoum on Oct. 17 for a summit on Darfur. The governments of South Africa, France and Germany have also made statements urging the Sudanese government to accept UN peacekeepers.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmend Abul Ghiet called on the government of Sudan and the United Nations to reach a mutual understanding regarding the situation in Darfur. He also called for a special meeting of leaders of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, and the African Union in order to convince Sudan to accept UN troops in Darfur.
A group of Chadian rebels said that they oppose a UN peacekeeping force to the Darfur border region because it could obstruct their campaign to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Deby.
After being nominated by the UN Security Council on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon is expected to be formally elected as secretary-general later this month. The following excerpts trace references to Ban Ki-Moon's support of the "Responsibility to Protect" principle, which was agreed upon by UN leader's during last year's summit:
"Ban Ki-moon has expressed strong support for things like the responsibility to protect the International Criminal Court," reported UN correspondent Ian Williams on Oct. 8.
"Ban also vowed to speak out in favor of the 'responsibility to protect' – a vow of collective action made by world leaders last year to stop 'genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,'" reported Agence-France Presse on Sept. 27.
"When a country is not able to protect its own people from crimes against humanity and genocide and prevents the international community from intervening on the excuse of sovereignty, the international community has a responsibility to protect those people from genocide," said Ban Ki-Moon in an interview with AFP on Oct. 3.
Genocide Intervention NetworkHave a Hand in Stopping Genocide
Hundreds were wounded or captured when violence between rebels and the government of Sudan erupted on Oct. 7 near the border with Chad. Meanwhile, international organizations and leaders of Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, France, Germany and others are increasing pressure on Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir with appeals to allow a UN peacekeeping force into the Darfur region. The International Criminal Court is continuing its investigations in Darfur with considerable difficulty due to instability, while the African Union announced a new dialogue initiative to improve the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Situation on the Ground
Intense fighting between the National Redemption Front rebel group, which has not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the government of Sudan began on Saturday near Sudan's border with Chad, wounding or capturing hundreds of rebel and government troops. Both sides blame each other for initiating the clash.
UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis said the agency was concerned about the close vicinity of the fighting to the Oure Cassoni refugee camp, located in Chad, five kilometers from the border. UNHCR will be surveying new sites available for an "urgent" relocation of the two camps.
Analysts warn that the continued violence near the border between Sudan and Chad threatens to destablize the entire region as well as relations between the two countries who only recently re-opened their borders.
On Monday, the fighting begun on Saturday spilled over into eastern Chad. The Sudanese government says 103 Sudanese soldiers were taken by the government of Chad after crossing the border, a charge Chad denies. Sudan subsequently accused Chad of providing support to National Redemption Front rebels.
Khartoum's troops have suffered heavy casualties in recent weeks, driven back in some areas despite the arrival of 20,000 additional soldiers into Darfur.
Two Darfurian refugees, girls aged 12 and 15, fought back against an attempted rape near a refugee camp in Ardamada. A dozen masked and armed men attacked four Médecins Sans Frontières aid workers in Darfur on Sept. 11. Three workers were beaten and given death threats and one female staff member was sexually harassed. UN agencies condemned increased attacks on women and girls in Darfur and reminded the Sudanese government of its obligation to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
The United Nation Children's Fund estimates that right now, 80 children under age 5 die each day due to malnutrition, disease, and poor living conditions in Darfur.
The World Food Programme said the number of people not reached by food aid has dropped from 470,000 in July to 224,000 in September. Among this number are 139,000, "who have gone without food aid for four months." Insecurity has been a major problem for the WFP. A spokesperson said WFP drivers "are being harassed, sometimes dragged out, beaten up" because "food convoys represent a lot of money to some of those armed groups." An initiative in South Darfur, "Food for Seed Protection" will aid 200,000 farmers in surviving the coming "hunger season."
Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed journalists on the situation in Darfur, Sudan stating that violence and insecurity are escalating. Because Sudanese militias are now better armed and equipped, "they are much better armed, they are more brutal than ever and their potential to do bad is bigger than ever," said Egeland.
The "Sudan Humanitarian Overview," a report released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported an increase in attacks on aid workers and an "atmosphere of fear and insecurity" in camps for internally displaced peoples. A report by the UN Security Council documented violations of the arms embargo by all parties in Darfur, including the Sudanese government. Insurgents from Chad too have broken the agreement while reportedly joining forces with the Sudanese government.
The UN human rights agency has urged the government of Sudan to launch an investigation of August militia attacks targeting 45 villages in South Darfur. The UN human rights chief said "several hundred" civilians may have died in these late-August militia attacks, a much higher number than originally estimated.
The Proposed UN Transfer
In a joint UN-AU letter to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, UN support of AU forces in Darfur was assessed at about 200 UN military and civilian staff. The AU is waiting for a formal response from Sudan on when this UN support team will be permitted to deploy to the Darfur region.
Stating its "grave concern" over Sudan's continued refusal of UN peacekeepers, the Security Council extended the timeline for the mission through the end of next April. The African Union has extended its own mission in Darfur until the end of 2006.
The government of Sudan staunchly refuses the UN force. In an interview, the deputy leader of the ruling National Congress Party, Ibrahim Omar, stated that if the SPLM, the only rebel group to sign May's peace agreement, accepts "invading" UN forces, "there will be no national unity government and the Naivasha agreements will cease to exist." Beshir has himself warned that he would lead a jihad against any UN troops in Darfur.
Abdul Rahman Khalil Ahmad, Sudan's charge d'affairs, said "the US and UK are after controlling our country," and that Sudan would continue to resist a UN force, even in the face of sanctions. Beshir has also rejected the Arab League's initial proposal offering to dispatch a UN force made up entirely of Arab and Muslim soldiers.
US Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios left on Thursday for Khartoum, where he will press Beshir to accept a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. He is planned to visit Khartoum, the Darfur region and the southern city of Juba, despite recently announced restrictions on US travel within Sudan.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in an address at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, acknowledged that genocide might be occurring in Darfur, and urged the international community to act. "It is not in the interest of Sudan nor in the interest of Africa, nor indeed in the interest of the world, for us all to stand by, fold our hands and see genocide in Darfur," Obasanjo said. Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Joy Ogwu was in Khartoum for two days this week to discuss the situation in Darfur.
Obasanjo and the presidents of Gabon and Senegal hope to persuade Beshir to accept an international peacekeeping force when they travel to Khartoum on Oct. 17 for a summit on Darfur. The governments of South Africa, France and Germany have also made statements urging the Sudanese government to accept UN peacekeepers.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmend Abul Ghiet called on the government of Sudan and the United Nations to reach a mutual understanding regarding the situation in Darfur. He also called for a special meeting of leaders of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, and the African Union in order to convince Sudan to accept UN troops in Darfur.
A group of Chadian rebels said that they oppose a UN peacekeeping force to the Darfur border region because it could obstruct their campaign to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Deby.
After being nominated by the UN Security Council on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon is expected to be formally elected as secretary-general later this month. The following excerpts trace references to Ban Ki-Moon's support of the "Responsibility to Protect" principle, which was agreed upon by UN leader's during last year's summit:
"Ban Ki-moon has expressed strong support for things like the responsibility to protect the International Criminal Court," reported UN correspondent Ian Williams on Oct. 8.
"Ban also vowed to speak out in favor of the 'responsibility to protect' – a vow of collective action made by world leaders last year to stop 'genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,'" reported Agence-France Presse on Sept. 27.
"When a country is not able to protect its own people from crimes against humanity and genocide and prevents the international community from intervening on the excuse of sovereignty, the international community has a responsibility to protect those people from genocide," said Ban Ki-Moon in an interview with AFP on Oct. 3.
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