The Justice and Equality Movement's self-described "road map for peace in Darfur" demonstrates at once the potential for great progress and great failures. JEM's recognition of the need to 'transcend' the DPA is crucially important. The JEM also points out the "necessity of reaching an agreement that deals with the root-causes of the problem and fully addresses the issue of power and wealth sharing," and that is essential to a successful peace agreement. The acknowledgement of the need for "wide consultations" with all the people of Darfur is extremely significant, but it is not enough.
"Wide consultation" regarding what Darfur's people need is just the beginning: what is also required is (as the International Crisis Group's report on "Revitalising the [Darfur] Peace Process" of April 2007 states) a "reference group of constituencies not part of past negotiations, including representatives of Arab tribes, IDPs [internally displaced persons], women's groups, and civil society," and constant, open contact with these groups must be maintained in order to come to any sort of agreement which would last successfully.
Further, although the JEM and SLM are internationally recognized, the two groups cannot be the only representatives of the people of Darfur. Indeed, the SLM cannot even be said to represent one group, as it has become so splintered since the signing of the DPA in May 2006. Again from the ICG report, "Greater inclusivity [of all Darfur's people]would translate into more buy-in and easier implementation". One negotiating position does not necessarily need to be achieved before serious talks begin, although it is necessary "at least to consolidate into recognizable blocs, with coherent leadership and political positions". In order for this sort of political and social cohesion to be possible, field commanders of different groups must unite and allow such cohesion to occur (ICG).
None of these things are possible if the JEM feels that it is "forced to resume negotiations on unilateral bases" (JEM). Certainly, it would be good if the SLM would "unify itself", but in the event that this does not occur in 45 days, the JEM must not try to negotiate unilaterally. The DPA has failed because it was not representative of the entire people of Darfur: any unilateral agreement would be doomed to similar, catastrophic failure. Not only would a unilateral agreement fail to protect Darfur, but it would give the international community at large yet another excuse to claim that the dire situation of Darfur is improving, when in fact the lives of thousands upon thousands are at excruciatingly high risk of being lost foerever.
http://www.sudanjem.com/en/index.php
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4769
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Oxfam withdraws from Darfur's largest camp
Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:20AM EDT
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - British aid agency Oxfam said on Saturday it was withdrawing permanently from Gereida in Sudan's Darfur region, home to the largest population of Darfuris driven from their homes over four years of conflict.
In a coordinated attack on three aid agency bases in Gereida in December, an aid worker was raped, an Oxfam staff member badly beaten and others subjected to mock executions.
Since then most operations have remained suspended in the area controlled by the former rebel faction of Minni Arcua Minnawi, the only leader to sign a May 2006 peace deal with the Khartoum government.
"Despite our repeated requests, none of the perpetrators have been held to account, none of the assets stolen in the attack have been returned, and we have not received credible assurances that similar attacks would not take place if we did return," said Caroline Nursey, Oxfam's Sudan programme manager.
Oxfam provided water and sanitation, healthcare and livelihood education to 130,000 Darfuris encamped around Gereida town. The International Committee for the Red Cross will take over the provision of water.
"As usual in Darfur, the people who will suffer most are the civilians who have already been attacked, forced from their homes and had their lives thrown into turmoil. For the last six months they have not had the level of assistance that they need," said Nursey.
The conflict has driven some 2.5 million from their homes.
Sudan last week agreed to allow a joint U.N.-African Union force of at least 20,000 police and troops, mostly African, deploy to the region. But questions over who will command and control the mission remain.
Ambassadors of the Security Council will arrive in Khartoum on Sunday and meet President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
"The UN Security Council's urgent priority has to be to get all of the different armed groups to stop targeting civilians and aid workers and adhere to a ceasefire with immediate effect," Oxfam said in a separate statement on Saturday.
Diplomats say the ambassadors are likely to press Bashir to accept overall U.N. command and control of the force before they pass any resolution to fund the mission.
Security Council members have discussed the imposition of a no-fly zone and sanctions on Sudan.
Aid agencies have expressed concern that a no-fly zone could endanger their staff who fly around Darfur, the size of France, because many roads are too dangerous.
Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of marginalizing the remote west. Khartoum mobilized militias to quell the revolt. Those militias stand accused of a campaign of rape, killing and looting.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - British aid agency Oxfam said on Saturday it was withdrawing permanently from Gereida in Sudan's Darfur region, home to the largest population of Darfuris driven from their homes over four years of conflict.
In a coordinated attack on three aid agency bases in Gereida in December, an aid worker was raped, an Oxfam staff member badly beaten and others subjected to mock executions.
Since then most operations have remained suspended in the area controlled by the former rebel faction of Minni Arcua Minnawi, the only leader to sign a May 2006 peace deal with the Khartoum government.
"Despite our repeated requests, none of the perpetrators have been held to account, none of the assets stolen in the attack have been returned, and we have not received credible assurances that similar attacks would not take place if we did return," said Caroline Nursey, Oxfam's Sudan programme manager.
Oxfam provided water and sanitation, healthcare and livelihood education to 130,000 Darfuris encamped around Gereida town. The International Committee for the Red Cross will take over the provision of water.
"As usual in Darfur, the people who will suffer most are the civilians who have already been attacked, forced from their homes and had their lives thrown into turmoil. For the last six months they have not had the level of assistance that they need," said Nursey.
The conflict has driven some 2.5 million from their homes.
Sudan last week agreed to allow a joint U.N.-African Union force of at least 20,000 police and troops, mostly African, deploy to the region. But questions over who will command and control the mission remain.
Ambassadors of the Security Council will arrive in Khartoum on Sunday and meet President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
"The UN Security Council's urgent priority has to be to get all of the different armed groups to stop targeting civilians and aid workers and adhere to a ceasefire with immediate effect," Oxfam said in a separate statement on Saturday.
Diplomats say the ambassadors are likely to press Bashir to accept overall U.N. command and control of the force before they pass any resolution to fund the mission.
Security Council members have discussed the imposition of a no-fly zone and sanctions on Sudan.
Aid agencies have expressed concern that a no-fly zone could endanger their staff who fly around Darfur, the size of France, because many roads are too dangerous.
Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of marginalizing the remote west. Khartoum mobilized militias to quell the revolt. Those militias stand accused of a campaign of rape, killing and looting.
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