698 AU troops preparing for Darfur - Janjaweed incorporated into Sudan's Army

An additional protection force of 698 troops will be deployed in Darfur in the coming days to join the 1,000 AU troops already on the ground, a statement by the African Union said.
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Janjaweed incorporated into the Sudanese army

A Human Rights Watch report today warns the Sudanese government and its Janjaweed militia (many of which have recently been incorporated into the army, police and other government forces) are responsible for a scorched-earth campaign of "ethnic cleansing," which has resulted in one of the world's most serious humanitarian disasters.

"This is a critical moment for Darfur," said a HRW spokesman. "The government's failure to prosecute those responsible for war crimes has meant continued insecurity for civilians." The report says:

The U.N. Security Council in September authorised, under resolution 1564, the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in Darfur and to determine whether genocide has occurred.

HRW urged the Security Council to refer the commission's findings, expected in late January, to the International Criminal Court to help ensure justice for the serious crimes committed in Darfur. "Ending impunity will help improve protection, but we also need to see more African Union troops on the ground. The Sudanese government has entirely failed in its responsibility to protect its own people, and others will need to ensure their security."

Khartoum admits arming some militias to fight the rebels but still denies any links to the Janjaweed, calling them outlaws. Who is to deal with these outlaws? Various news reports say neither side are willing to show their maps pinpointing where they have planted minefields. If the landmines are not cleared, they will cause delays for refugees returning home - or horrific injuries.
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AFRICAN UNION TO HOST SECURITY SUMMIT JANUARY 10

On January 10 the AU will host a two-day summit in Gabon to discuss ongoing security issues in the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and western Sudan, it was announced Wednesday. The summit will be attended by representatives of the 15-member AU Peace and Security Council.

On the agenda at the summit is the recent peace talks between the government of Sudan and rebel groups concerning Darfur. Those talks, held December 10 to 21 in the Nigerian capital Abuja and chaired by Nigerian president and AU chairman Olusegun Obasanjo, have stalled amid accusations of ceasefire violations by both sides. A report will be submitted to the PSC summit on the Darfur situation.
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EUROPEAN FUNDING TO HELP SUDAN DEVELOP HAS STRINGS ATTACHED

Some journalists are under the impression that the West will pay out the vast sums of development aid it pledged for when a peace deal is signed. As pointed out here in earlier posts, the European Union and Britain have made it clear that the timing for the release of the funds pledged to help Sudan in its reconsctruction will depend on progress made in Darfur. [One can take that as meaning an actual peace deal for Darfur]

Here's what is at stake, for starters: the European Union pledged 400-million euros. Britain promised to increase spending on relief and other activities in Sudan, setting a target 28-million GBP (approx 43-million USD). The US pledged 200-million USD.
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TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT SHOULD ENABLE THE UN TO PROVE ITSELF

An FT report says when President George W. Bush announced that a "core group" of countries consisting of the US, Japan, India and Australia would be co-ordinating the relief effort, it looked like a deliberate snub to the UN. Fortunately, the idea was abandoned after talks in Jakarta yesterday, when all four made clear that the UN would henceforth do the job.

It was a grudging admission on Washington's part. But the tsunami relief effort should be a perfect opportunity for the UN to prove itself.

It would be good if the US got its act together on the UN and started paying its subs on time. The UN is important as it is all we have. What is the alternative? The UN is undergoing reform. Important discussions take place in September, following last months recommendations by a high level panel on UN reform. A new UN Secretary-General will be in post in 24 months. Kofi Annan intends serving his full term in office which I believe expires January 1, 2007.