Saturday 12 May 2007.
By Rob Crilly
May 11, 2007 (JEBEL MARA, South Darfur) — Mohamed Ali Adam comes from one of the most feared tribes in south Darfur, the pro-government Falata. As a Janjaweed fighter he helped his militia to rape, loot and murder its way through village after village. Yet he is among a growing number of Arab gunmen switching sides as they grow disillusioned with the Khartoum Government.
“If I remember the actions which we did, I feel very sorry and sometimes I cry,” he said, sipping sweet, black tea with half a dozen of his new comrades from the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), deep inside Jebel Mara, the mountainous stronghold of the anti-Khartoum rebels.
Once they would have tried to kill each other.
Commander Adam, with his dark tan and Khartoum-issued, Chinese-made Kalashnikov, cuts an unlikely figure as a rebel commander. Yet he now ventures regularly into the hillside town of Gorolang Baje – home to the Fur people that gave Darfur its name – to take orders from his new superiors, who used to be his foes.
His presence here is a sign that the widely accepted view of the Darfur conflict is breaking down. No longer is it a case of rebels drawn from the black, farming tribes pitted against an Arab-dominated Government and their light-skinned Janjaweed allies.
Defections such as that of Commander Adam have eased fighting in some parts of Darfur. But the increasingly complex picture makes prospects of a resolution even more difficult, according to analysts.
Darfur is riddled with tribal tensions. In places, Arab tribes have turned on one another as they compete for land plundered from non-Arab tribes. Several Arab tribes have kept out of the conflict altogether.
And at the end of last year a new rebel grouping emerged from Arab tribes: the Popular Forces Army.
Splits among rebel groups appeared last year after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement. One arm of the SLA, which signed up for peace and is now allied to the Government, is spearheading an offensive against its old comrades who are holed up in Jebel Mara.
“The level of complexity has always been there beneath the surface,” one aid official said in the south Darfur capital of Nyala. “What we are seeing though is the divisions come to the surface, and overall security is getting worse.”
Commander Adam, 23, who commands a unit of 70 non-signatory SLA soldiers, is clear about why he split from Khartoum seven months ago. He said that the Government promised his people land amid the fertile slopes of Jebel Mara, where apple orchards and orange groves prosper far from the dusty, desert plains that comprise the rest of Darfur.
But four years on, he said he wondered why he took up arms. He found himself fighting people from the Fur tribe – a people whose language he spoke and had always considered good neighbours. Now, as he listed the villages he helped to burn – Hamada, Durbo, Baliserif, Debenera, Jafaina – he said that he felt only regret.
Hamis Mohamed Adam, the political officer of the SLA in Gorolang Baje, said: “There were so many serious things, sad stories, burning villages, killing people, but if someone is wrong and has discovered that they are wrong, what can we do? We can only forgive them.”
The shifting allegiances make peace an even more pressing priority, said Mohamed Guyo, of the Institute for Security Studies in Nairobi. “If things continue as they are, with rebel groups fragmenting and other militias switching sides, then it becomes more and more difficult to imagine a resolution.”
(The Times)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Two UN vehicles hijacked by unknown gunmen in Darfur
Thursday 10 May 2007.
May 9, 2007 (AL-FASHIR) — Two vehicles of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) have been hijacked by unknown gunmen in the conflict-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur, well-informed sources said on Wednesday.
The sources told Xinhua that an unidentified number of international and local staff, members of the UNMIS Darfur Office,in the vehicles were believed kidnapped.
The two vehicles were on a routine duty on the outskirts of Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, when the UNMIS Darfur Office in the city lost contacts with them, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, the sources announced that two Sudanese employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their driver, who had been kidnapped in Fashir, were released by the abductors on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, three gunmen hijacked the vehicle which the three Sudanese were driving and drove it northward to Katam, an area where rebel National Redemption Front (NRF) are actively launching military actions against the government forces.
The abductions took place at a time when the UN was considering how to implement a plan of sending some 3000 soldiers, policemen and civilian officers to reinforce the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur.
The plan, which known as "the Heavy Support Package (HSP)", is the second step of a three-phase deal on the deploying a UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur, was approved by the Sudanese government on April 16.
UNMIS has called for a cessation of hostilities before the HSP could be delivered from the UN to the 7800-strong AU force in Darfur.
"For this operation on the Heavy Support Package to be effectively implemented... Violence and military action in Darfur must cease," UNMIS Spokesperson Radhia Achouri said in Khartoum recently.
She said that Janjaweed, the most famous militia in Darfur, as well as other spoilers must be disarmed, and attacks on humanitarian workers and peacekeepers must be stopped.
(Xinhua)
May 9, 2007 (AL-FASHIR) — Two vehicles of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) have been hijacked by unknown gunmen in the conflict-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur, well-informed sources said on Wednesday.
The sources told Xinhua that an unidentified number of international and local staff, members of the UNMIS Darfur Office,in the vehicles were believed kidnapped.
The two vehicles were on a routine duty on the outskirts of Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, when the UNMIS Darfur Office in the city lost contacts with them, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, the sources announced that two Sudanese employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their driver, who had been kidnapped in Fashir, were released by the abductors on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, three gunmen hijacked the vehicle which the three Sudanese were driving and drove it northward to Katam, an area where rebel National Redemption Front (NRF) are actively launching military actions against the government forces.
The abductions took place at a time when the UN was considering how to implement a plan of sending some 3000 soldiers, policemen and civilian officers to reinforce the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur.
The plan, which known as "the Heavy Support Package (HSP)", is the second step of a three-phase deal on the deploying a UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur, was approved by the Sudanese government on April 16.
UNMIS has called for a cessation of hostilities before the HSP could be delivered from the UN to the 7800-strong AU force in Darfur.
"For this operation on the Heavy Support Package to be effectively implemented... Violence and military action in Darfur must cease," UNMIS Spokesperson Radhia Achouri said in Khartoum recently.
She said that Janjaweed, the most famous militia in Darfur, as well as other spoilers must be disarmed, and attacks on humanitarian workers and peacekeepers must be stopped.
(Xinhua)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
China, Russia Deny Weapons Breach
8 May 2007.
bbc.co.uk
China and Russia have denied claims by Amnesty International that they are supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur, in breach of a UN arms embargo.
A report by the rights group says the weapons end up in the hands of the government-backed Janjaweed militia.
It also includes apparent photographic evidence of Sudan using military aircraft camouflaged white in Darfur.
China said its exports to Sudan were legal, limited and on a small scale. Russia also denied any embargo breach.
A Russian foreign ministry official said Moscow "unswervingly" observes the UN restrictions.
The use of all-white aircraft and helicopters... in Darfur is in violation of applicable norms of international humanitarian law
Amnesty International
Under the terms of a UN Security Council resolution passed in March 2005, an embargo is in place on the supply of arms to all parties in the conflict in Darfur.
The Sudanese ambassador to the UN, Abdel Mahmood Abdel Haleem, said the Amnesty allegations were "baseless and unfounded".
More than 200,000 people have died during a four-year conflict in Darfur, and the Janjaweed militia are accused of displacing and killing tens of thousands of people.
Photographs
In its report, Amnesty calls on the UN Security Council to strengthen the arms embargo on Darfur, which was extended in March 2005 to cover all parties.
Amnesty says it is "dismayed" that two permanent members of the UN Security Council are "allowing ongoing flows of arms to parties in Sudan".
UN ARMS EMBARGO
Imposed by Resolution 1591, 29 March 2005
Cuts the supply of arms to all parties to the conflict in Darfur
Some nations regard arms exports to Sudan's government as allowed under the embargo
Sudan is permitted to run humanitarian flights into Darfur, but only with UN permission - never requested
Source: Amnesty
The report provides photographs of what it says were a Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter at Nyala in Darfur and Chinese Fanfan fighters at Nyala earlier this year.
It also pictures an all-white, Russian-built Antonov 26 military plane, with the registration code ST-ZZZ.
It says it appears there are "three planes with this registration number" and said it was "highly likely" they were used in bombing raids.
The Amnesty report backs up a UN study, leaked to the New York Times last month, which said Sudan was painting aircraft white to make them look like UN planes - a practice banned by the Geneva Convention.
"The use of all-white aircraft and helicopters... in Darfur is in violation of applicable norms of international humanitarian law," the new report says.
Sudan denies using any white aircraft for military purposes, but says it has some white helicopters to transfer officials.
Amnesty says its report is based on eyewitness accounts from Darfur and "confidential sources".
'Lies'
The Amnesty report backs the UN findings suggesting that Sudan is flying weapons into Darfur in breach of UN Security Council resolutions, a claim denied by Sudan.
But Amnesty says Sudan is "routinely failing to seek [UN] approval to move weapons... into Darfur", it says, and is importing weapons it knows will be used to target civilians.
The human rights group says Russia and China are aware of the eventual uses of arms exported to Sudan.
It cites 2005 trade figures as showing China sold $24m and Russia $21m of military material to Sudan.
Amnesty has also accused Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Belarus of supplying arms.
China has a close relationship with Sudan, increasing its military co-operation with Khartoum earlier this year.
The relationship is based around Khartoum's plentiful supply of oil, which China needs to fuel its booming economy, says the BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing.
We are not using these aircraft for any military function in Darfur
Abdel Mahmood Abdel Haleem
Sudanese UN ambassador
However, Amnesty now says it wants a list made of all items prohibited for transfer and for UN personnel to be stationed at all ports of entry in Sudan.
Amnesty also wants all UN states to suspend the transfer of any arms and ammunitions likely to be used by the parties in Darfur.
But Mr Haleem said military assets were simply being moved around the country.
Mr Haleem told the BBC: "We are moving these military assets to their respective places. We are not using these aircraft for any military function in Darfur."
bbc.co.uk
China and Russia have denied claims by Amnesty International that they are supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur, in breach of a UN arms embargo.
A report by the rights group says the weapons end up in the hands of the government-backed Janjaweed militia.
It also includes apparent photographic evidence of Sudan using military aircraft camouflaged white in Darfur.
China said its exports to Sudan were legal, limited and on a small scale. Russia also denied any embargo breach.
A Russian foreign ministry official said Moscow "unswervingly" observes the UN restrictions.
The use of all-white aircraft and helicopters... in Darfur is in violation of applicable norms of international humanitarian law
Amnesty International
Under the terms of a UN Security Council resolution passed in March 2005, an embargo is in place on the supply of arms to all parties in the conflict in Darfur.
The Sudanese ambassador to the UN, Abdel Mahmood Abdel Haleem, said the Amnesty allegations were "baseless and unfounded".
More than 200,000 people have died during a four-year conflict in Darfur, and the Janjaweed militia are accused of displacing and killing tens of thousands of people.
Photographs
In its report, Amnesty calls on the UN Security Council to strengthen the arms embargo on Darfur, which was extended in March 2005 to cover all parties.
Amnesty says it is "dismayed" that two permanent members of the UN Security Council are "allowing ongoing flows of arms to parties in Sudan".
UN ARMS EMBARGO
Imposed by Resolution 1591, 29 March 2005
Cuts the supply of arms to all parties to the conflict in Darfur
Some nations regard arms exports to Sudan's government as allowed under the embargo
Sudan is permitted to run humanitarian flights into Darfur, but only with UN permission - never requested
Source: Amnesty
The report provides photographs of what it says were a Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter at Nyala in Darfur and Chinese Fanfan fighters at Nyala earlier this year.
It also pictures an all-white, Russian-built Antonov 26 military plane, with the registration code ST-ZZZ.
It says it appears there are "three planes with this registration number" and said it was "highly likely" they were used in bombing raids.
The Amnesty report backs up a UN study, leaked to the New York Times last month, which said Sudan was painting aircraft white to make them look like UN planes - a practice banned by the Geneva Convention.
"The use of all-white aircraft and helicopters... in Darfur is in violation of applicable norms of international humanitarian law," the new report says.
Sudan denies using any white aircraft for military purposes, but says it has some white helicopters to transfer officials.
Amnesty says its report is based on eyewitness accounts from Darfur and "confidential sources".
'Lies'
The Amnesty report backs the UN findings suggesting that Sudan is flying weapons into Darfur in breach of UN Security Council resolutions, a claim denied by Sudan.
But Amnesty says Sudan is "routinely failing to seek [UN] approval to move weapons... into Darfur", it says, and is importing weapons it knows will be used to target civilians.
The human rights group says Russia and China are aware of the eventual uses of arms exported to Sudan.
It cites 2005 trade figures as showing China sold $24m and Russia $21m of military material to Sudan.
Amnesty has also accused Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Belarus of supplying arms.
China has a close relationship with Sudan, increasing its military co-operation with Khartoum earlier this year.
The relationship is based around Khartoum's plentiful supply of oil, which China needs to fuel its booming economy, says the BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing.
We are not using these aircraft for any military function in Darfur
Abdel Mahmood Abdel Haleem
Sudanese UN ambassador
However, Amnesty now says it wants a list made of all items prohibited for transfer and for UN personnel to be stationed at all ports of entry in Sudan.
Amnesty also wants all UN states to suspend the transfer of any arms and ammunitions likely to be used by the parties in Darfur.
But Mr Haleem said military assets were simply being moved around the country.
Mr Haleem told the BBC: "We are moving these military assets to their respective places. We are not using these aircraft for any military function in Darfur."
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Darfur deal generates violence hindering humanitarian efforts - UN
Monday 7 May 2007.
May 6, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – United Nations said the Darfur Peace Agreement signed one year ago has lead to more violence, which has crippled the world’s largest humanitarian operation.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Darfur said relief work in Darfur has been jeopardized by the very agreement that was supposed to bring peace to the region.
The U.N. organization pointed out the splintering of rebel factions, which followed the signing of the accord has lead to anarchy in Darfur.
Antoine Gerard, manager of the Darfur section at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says aid access has dwindled.
"We have seen a progressive deterioration of the situation in Darfur since May 2006. For the humanitarian community it’s a nightmare. It’s a nightmare in terms of security. It’s a nightmare in terms of designing your humanitarian response," said Gerard.
Days after the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed, there were indicators the accord was in trouble.
Only one rebel faction of the Sudan Liberation Army signed on to the deal. Others claimed it did not meet their demands of wealth and power sharing.
Within weeks, full-scale infighting among rebels had displaced tens of thousands of people.
Aids groups say the obstacles to relief work are now immense.
Humanitarian workers no longer know which rebel groups they should contact when traveling in relief convoys to provide aid.
When convoys come under attack, it is almost impossible to identify the culprits.
Gerard said attacks on aid workers, which increased late last year, caused the withdrawal of humanitarian staff across the region.
"Since May we’ve seen this as well: an increase in violence against humanitarian workers," added Gerard. "It is another area of concern that the violence has extended also against those who are providing humanitarian assistance."
Aid workers in areas held by former rebels have been raped and beaten. In government controlled areas, Sudanese police have beaten and sexually assaulted both Sudanese and international humanitarian staff.
The international community has launched intense diplomatic efforts to get holdout rebels to sign on to the peace deal, still considered the best way to bring peace to Darfur.
The conflict began in 2003 when rebels rose against Sudan’s powerful Islamist regime, complaining that remote Darfur was undeveloped due to neglect.
Sudan is charged with arming Arab militias known as janjaweed to crush the rebellion.
An estimated 200,000 people have died since the start of the conflict, with 2.5 million others displaced by fighting and wholly dependent upon humanitarian aid.
(VOA)
May 6, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – United Nations said the Darfur Peace Agreement signed one year ago has lead to more violence, which has crippled the world’s largest humanitarian operation.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Darfur said relief work in Darfur has been jeopardized by the very agreement that was supposed to bring peace to the region.
The U.N. organization pointed out the splintering of rebel factions, which followed the signing of the accord has lead to anarchy in Darfur.
Antoine Gerard, manager of the Darfur section at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says aid access has dwindled.
"We have seen a progressive deterioration of the situation in Darfur since May 2006. For the humanitarian community it’s a nightmare. It’s a nightmare in terms of security. It’s a nightmare in terms of designing your humanitarian response," said Gerard.
Days after the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed, there were indicators the accord was in trouble.
Only one rebel faction of the Sudan Liberation Army signed on to the deal. Others claimed it did not meet their demands of wealth and power sharing.
Within weeks, full-scale infighting among rebels had displaced tens of thousands of people.
Aids groups say the obstacles to relief work are now immense.
Humanitarian workers no longer know which rebel groups they should contact when traveling in relief convoys to provide aid.
When convoys come under attack, it is almost impossible to identify the culprits.
Gerard said attacks on aid workers, which increased late last year, caused the withdrawal of humanitarian staff across the region.
"Since May we’ve seen this as well: an increase in violence against humanitarian workers," added Gerard. "It is another area of concern that the violence has extended also against those who are providing humanitarian assistance."
Aid workers in areas held by former rebels have been raped and beaten. In government controlled areas, Sudanese police have beaten and sexually assaulted both Sudanese and international humanitarian staff.
The international community has launched intense diplomatic efforts to get holdout rebels to sign on to the peace deal, still considered the best way to bring peace to Darfur.
The conflict began in 2003 when rebels rose against Sudan’s powerful Islamist regime, complaining that remote Darfur was undeveloped due to neglect.
Sudan is charged with arming Arab militias known as janjaweed to crush the rebellion.
An estimated 200,000 people have died since the start of the conflict, with 2.5 million others displaced by fighting and wholly dependent upon humanitarian aid.
(VOA)
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