Sudan: Displacement and recent clashes in North Darfur, Apr 01 - Apr 17 2024 & Apr 14 - Apr 16 2024

DTM Sudan Focused Flash Alert North Darfur, Apr 01 2024 - Apr 17 2024:

DISPLACEMENT AND RECENT CLASHES IN NORTH DARFUR 

Since 01 April 2024, DTM Sudan monitored several clashes in multiple locations across Al Fasher locality in North Darfur state.

Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) renewed across Al Fasher Town of Al Fasher locality, Kebkabiya Town of Kebkabiya locality, and Kutum Town of Kutum locality on 01 April 2024, displacing an estimated 500 individuals (100  households).

In addition, DTM monitored attacks on Korma, Jonjona and Sarafaya villages linked to tribal conflict between 02 and 04 April 2024. The attacks led to the displacement of approximately 3,815 individuals (763 households) across various locations in Al Fasher locality.

Field teams observed additional clashes due to tribal conflict on 13 April 2024 in Birka, Sarafaya, Hillat Khamis, Jakho I, and Jartouna villages across Al Fasher locality, North Darfur. The clashes reportedly displaced approximately 34,350 individuals (6,870 households). Affected households were primarily displaced to other locations within Al Fasher locality. Field teams noted that an estimated 9,500 individuals (1,900 households) displaced from Jakho I village were originally displaced from Tawila locality in mid-June 2023 and therefore experienced secondary displacement due to the recent clashes.

Finally, field teams observed additional clashes between SAF and RSF in Al Fasher town from 14 April to 16 April 2024. The clashes reportedly displaced approximately 1,950 individuals (390 households) across Al Fasher locality. Households were displaced primarily from northern and eastern neighbourhoods of Al Fasher Town.

An estimated total of 40,615 individuals (approximately 8,123 households) were displaced in Al Fasher locality, North Darfur between 1 and 16 April 2024 due to the clashes described above, as noted in corresponding DTM Early Warning Flash alerts.

Map 1: Location of Reported Clashes and Resulting Displacement, 01 April -18 April 2024

BROADER CONTEXT 

While North Darfur remained an epicenter of clashes since the outbreak of conflict on 15 April 2023, field teams observed a sharp escalation of clashes and displacement beginning in January 2024. Since 01 January 2024, DTM released 17 Early Warning Flash Alerts focused on Al Fasher locality, representing over 60 per cent of the total flash alerts pertaining to Al Fasher locality since the eruption of conflict on 15 April 2023.

In January 2024, clashes were observed across Al Fasher, Kutum, and Melit localities. Field teams reported four incidents in Al Fasher and one in Um Kadadah in February 2024, and three incidents in Al Fasher and two incidents across Al Fasher, Kebkabiya, and Kutum localities during March 2024. Notably, the majority (69%) of DTM Early Warning Flash Alerts pertaining to conflict and displacement in North Darfur state focused on Al Fasher locality specifically.

DISPLACEMENT DATA IN NORTH DARFUR 

As of 17 April 2024, North Darfur state hosted an estimated 570,183 IDPs. over one third (approximately 36%, or 204,438 IDPs) were reportedly hosted in Al Fasher locality.

In addition, approximately 606,673 IDPs originated from North Darfur state, representing nine per cent of the total population of IDPs displaced in Sudan since 15 April 2023. Approximately 87 per cent of IDPs in North Darfur were displaced from locations within North Darfur. An estimated 235,147 IDPs originated from Al Fasher locality specifically.

Source:  DTM Sudan Focused Flash Alert: Conflict in North Darfur State  

23 April 2024 Update One

Map 2: Reported Displacement in North Darfur state, as of 17 April 2024

Full story: 

DTM Sudan Focused Flash Alert North Darfur, Apr 01 2024 - Apr 17 2024

https://dtm.iom.int/reports/dtm-sudan-focused-flash-alert-north-darfur

END

Sudan: Clashes erupted between the RSF and armed tribal groups in Um Kadadah locality, North Darfur

DTM (Displacement Tracking Matrix) Sudan Flash Alert

Dated Saturday, 24 February 2024 - here is a copy in full:

Conflict in Um Kadadah (Um Kadadah Town), North Darfur

On 22 February 2024, clashes erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and armed tribal groups in  Um Kadadah Town of Um Kadadah locality, North Darfur.  

Field teams reported that the event led to widespread displacement across Um Kadadah locality, displacing the majority of Um Kadadah Town residents.  

Affected households sought refuge in surrounding locations including Burush Town and Jebel Hilla, Um Gafala, Zarafa, Umm Sidra, El Mashura and Damair villages of Um Kadadah locality. The situation remains tense and unpredictable. 

DTM will continue to monitor the developments closely and will provide further information on displacement and population mobility across Sudan, on a weekly basis, via its Weekly Displacement Snapshot. 

Disclaimer: Due to the current circumstances, the DTM network is relying on remote interviews with key informants and further verification is not possible at this time.

*DTM Sudan Flash Alerts provide an initial estimation of affected population figures gathered from field reports. All information is therefore pending verification through DTM’s Emergency Event Tracking (EET) and/or registration activities and is not to be used as official figures.

Source: VIEW IN BROWSER

END

Darfur, Sudan: ICC 2005 investigation into Haskanita

Note from Sudan Watch Editor: For the record, here is a copy of a page from Wikipedia last edited on 16 July 2019 at 00:49 (UTC) plus a photo from BBC News. Yellow highlighting is mine.

Photo: Twelve Africa peacekeepers died in the attack on the AU camp in Haskanita, South Darfur, western Sudan on 29 September 2007. Credit: BBC News report Sudan: Darfur rebel leaders surrender to Hague court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10329167 

From Wikipedia [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raids_on_Haskanita ]

Raids on Haskanita

The raids on Haskanita was an attack on African Union peacekeepers by rebel groups during the Darfur conflict. The attacks took place on 30 September and early October 2007 near the town of Haskanita in South Darfur. Three rebel commanders were arrested for the attacks on warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

Background

The Darfur conflict started in 2003 when two rebels groups took up arms against the Sudanese government. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) claimed that the government discriminated against black Africans in favor of Arabs. Local Arab Janjaweed militias intervened on the side of the government. Following an initial ceasefire in 2004, African Union peacekeepers were deployed as the African Union Mission in Sudan. (AMIS)^[1] AMIS established a base in Haskanita, in Um Kadada District, North Darfur province and 100 km northeast of Ed Daein.^[2]

In November 2006 the area around Haskanita was taken over from the SLA by the National Redemption Front - a splinter group from the JEM. Aid agencies suspended their operations in the neighbouring districts of Ed Daein and Adila.^[3]

First raid

On 30 September 2007 approximately 1,000 rebels attacked an AMIS base, killing 10 peacekeepers, including seven from Nigeria and one each from Mali, Senegal and Botswana,^[4] and wounded many more. A further 50 personnel were initially unaccounted for, but later found. The attack occurred just after sunset, and came amid increasing tensions and violence between the separatist rebels and AMIS peacekeepers, who the rebels accused of bias towards the central government. Survivors said the rebels used heavy weaponry to attack the AMIS base, including rocket-propelled grenades and armored vehicles.^[5] Sudan's army and Darfur rebel movements initially blamed each other for the attack.^[6]

Second raid

The town of Haskanita was attacked again in early October, and most of it was set on fire. Following the attack, the town's mosque and school were some of the few buildings remaining intact.^[7] The ruins still act as a base for African Union forces, headquartering a full 800-strong battalion. Although it has yet to be confirmed, unnamed sources in Khartoum claimed the fires were set by AU forces and Janjaweed militia in retaliation for the attacks in late September.^[8]

International Criminal Court investigation

The Darfur conflict had been referred by the UN Security Council in 2005 to the International Criminal Court and the Chief Prosecutor had opened an investigation into crimes related to the conflict.^[9]

In July 2008, the Chief Prosecutor said he knew who were the perpetrators of the Haskanita raids, and he was committed to prosecuting them.^[10] In November 2008, he requested arrest warrants for three rebel commanders from the Justice and Equality Movement for these attacks.^[11] One of these — Bahr Idriss Abu Garda — voluntarily surrendered to the court in May 2009.^[12] However, charges were dropped in February 2010 when judges ruled the prosecutor could not prove he had planned the attack.^[13] The other two commanders - Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus - surrendered to the court in June 2010 and were charged with three counts of war crimes:

• murder
• pillage
• Attacking peacekeepers ^[13]

Banda led a splinter group from the Justice and Equality Movement and Jerbo led the Sudanese Liberation Army - Unity faction.^[13] Abu Garda led the United Resistance Front, another splinter group from the JEM.^[14]

External links

• Preliminary AU report on the September 30 attack

References

1. ^ See the articles on Darfur conflict and AMIS.
2. ^ See this map Archived 2011-10-30 at the Wayback Machine for the location of Haskanita]
3. ^ USAID situation report Archived 2009-08-05 at the Wayback Machine, USAID, 1 December 2006
4. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19940585/
5. ^ Rebel attack came at end of Ramadan fast USAToday, October 1, 2007.
6. ^ News: Sudan, Sudan gov't, militia forces raze Darfur town-rebels
7. ^ BBC NEWS | Africa | Army-controlled Darfur town razed
8. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21098619/
9. Security Council Refers Situation in Darfur, Sudan, To Prosecutor of International Criminal Court, United Nations, 2005-03-31, accessed on 2007-01-11
10. ^ Court vows to try Darfur rebels, Al Jazeera, 2008-07-18
11. ^ Prosecutor to present third Sudan case within weeks Archived 2008-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, 2008-10-18
12. ^ First Darfur rebel to appear before Hague court, Reuters, 2009-05-17
13. ^ Jump up to:
    ^{a b c} Sudan: Darfur rebel leaders surrender to Hague court, BBC, 16 June 2010
14. ^ See Bahr Idriss Abu Garda article for more information and sources.

    Timeline International response UNMIS / AMIS / UNAMID ICC investigation
    Combatants
    SLM JEM LJM Janjaweed
    Other articles
    History of Darfur Bibliography

Map of Darfur within Sudan, July 2011, courtesy of Wikipedia.

- - -

Further Reading

WAR CRIME ALERT: UN peacekeeper slain in Abyei, Sudan/South Sudan. When will the ICC investigate?

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General on the situation in Abyei

UN Press Release

Published: July 17, 2019

Attack on peacekeepers a war crime: Ban Ki-moon

Article from The Hindu

By Special Correspondent New Delhi

Published: April 10, 2013 01:45 IST

Updated: June 10, 2016 07:39 IST

Killing of peacekeepers a war crime: Ban ki-Moon

Article from The Hindu 

Published: April 10, 2013

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2019/07/war-crime-alert-un-peacekeeper-slain-in.html

Sudan News Round-Up: Security situation in Darfur 08 June 2010 - Commissioner bans shisha in Rumbek Central

Quote of the Day

MOST BEAUTIFUL TWEET CONTEST

"I believe we can build a better world! Of course, it’ll take a whole lot of rock, water and dirt. Also, not sure where to put it.” This is the short message written by Marc McKenzie a 41 year old Canadian. The British Writer and actor Stephen Fry, announced him as the winner of the most beautiful Tweet ever in a competition organized for the Hay Festival, an annual event in Wales.

Source: www.france24.com
- - -

SHISHA BANNED IN RUMBEK TOWN, SOUTHERN SUDAN



Photo source: Sudan Tribune report "Shisha banned in Rumbek Town" published online Monday, 07 June 2010. Note this copy of a comment posted at the report:

"That is an excellent authoritative job Rumbek commissioner. When i talk to relatives and friends who smoke shisha, they turn against and isolate me. Please i wish you talk to your counterpart commissioners in other counties to follow suite in the ban. This is Arab cigarrettes/drugs which originated from the Middle East and then Egypt, now Sudan and finally Uganda. When i went to Uganda, i was supprise to find people bussy smoking shisha. MAUMAU"

- - -

DARFUR/UNAMID DAILY MEDIA BRIEF - Tuesday, 08 June 2010
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
El Fasher (Darfur), western Sudan, Wednesday, 09 June 2010/via APO:

Security situation in Darfur
No significant incidents have been reported over the past 24 hours.

UNAMID is currently planning a mission to the Um Kadada region of North Darfur to verify reports of an ambush of a Sudanese military convoy by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces.

AU-UN JSR, Mediator meet with civil society organizations
UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari and AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator (JCM) for Darfur Djibril Bassolé today arrived in Nyala, South Darfur, to meet with over 60 representatives from Darfur’s civil society organizations (CSOs).

Mr. Bassolé briefed the attendees on the most recent developments in the Doha negotiations, and emphasized the importance of their participation in future peace talks. He also asked that the CSOs push for the JEM to return to the negotiating table.

According to JSR Gambari, UNAMID and the Office of the JCM will again meet with the civil society organizations in two week’s time, ahead of the resumption of the Doha talks.

UNAMID, Darfur police continue combating violence against women
Yesterday marked the beginning of a ten-day workshop held in El Fasher, North Darfur, by UNAMID’s Human Rights component to increase the capacity of police officers in investigating violent crimes against women. The event was organized with support from the Swiss Government’s Fund Project to implement recommendations by the UN Group of Experts on Darfur.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Hawa Suleiman, Chair of the State Committee on Combating Violence against Women, and recently elected State Minister of Agriculture, as well as the Director of the State Police’s Family and Child unit.

Twenty-five police investigators and commissioned officers from all three Darfur states are attending the course, including seven female officers from North Darfur. There are currently no women in the West and South Darfur state police forces, a fact which the Mission hopes will soon be addressed.

The participants will be trained on national and international standards in investigating crimes against women, including procedures for interviewing suspects and victims, and Sudanese laws on domestic violence, gender-based violence and human trafficking.

This workshop is part of UNAMID’s ongoing efforts to reach out to the women of the region, who have been most affected by the conflict. The Mission has also launched awareness-raising campaigns among local leaders in towns and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and is increasing its female police advisors.

UNAMID patrols
UNAMID military forces conducted 105 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night, and humanitarian escort patrols, covering 95 villages and IDP camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors conducted 125 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

Source: http://appablog.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/darfur-unamid-daily-media-brief-163/

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SUDAN NEWS FROM USAID

Sudan: Complex Emergency Situation Report #8 (FY 2010)
Report by United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Tuesday, 08 June 2010:

Note: The last situation report was dated May 14, 2010.

BACKGROUND

In 2010, Sudan continues to cope with the effects of conflict, displacement, and insecurity. Since 2003, a complex emergency in Sudan's western region of Darfur has affected more than 4.7 million people, including nearly 2.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). Periodic conflict continues in Darfur among armed opposition factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), militias, and ethnic groups.

Despite reports of isolated incidents of violence, the boycott of major opposition parties, and voting irregularities, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir won the first multi-party presidential election in more than 24 years and was sworn in to another five-year term on May 27, according to international media sources. The National Congress Party and the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement continue to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement through the Government of National Unity (GNU). The formation of the GNU officially ended more than two decades of north–south conflict. During the conflict, famine, fighting, and disease killed more than 2 million people, forced an estimated 500,000 Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring countries, and displaced an additional 4 million individuals within Sudan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that since 2005, approximately 2 million people have returned to Southern Sudan and the Three Areas of Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Abyei, straining scarce resources and weak infrastructure.

In eastern Sudan, the GNU and the Eastern Front opposition coalition signed the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement in 2006. However, humanitarian needs persist in the area, which has experienced slow recovery following decades of conflict. Humanitarian access to the east remains limited due to Sudanese government-imposed travel restrictions.

On October 1, 2009, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., Mark L. Asquino renewed the disaster declaration for the complex emergency in Sudan for FY 2010. The U.S. Mission in Sudan has declared disasters due to the complex emergency annually since 1987. USAID continues to work with other U.S. Government (USG) agencies, the U.N., and humanitarian agencies to closely monitor the humanitarian situation during the post-election period and in advance of the January 2011 referenda and popular consultations.

Full_Report (pdf* format - 66.2 Kbytes)

- - -

SUDAN NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES -

Headlines Around the Web

What's This?

DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND

JUNE 9, 2010

Oil Consortium Behind War Crimes - Aid Agencies

HOW APPEALING

JUNE 8, 2010

"US court dismisses 1998 Sudan missile strike suit"

REUTERS

JUNE 8, 2010

US court dismisses 1998 Sudan missile strike suit

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JUNE 8, 2010

Judges Side With US Against Sudan Factory Owners

HARRY'S PLACE

JUNE 8, 2010

Arrest Bashir?

More at Blogrunner »

- - -

SUDAN NEWS FROM SRS (SUDAN RADIO SERVICE)
http://www.sudanradio.org/

09-Jun-2010

• After the Referendum? Mbeki Says NCP And SPLM To Begin Talks
• Youth Organize Referendum Rally in Juba
• State Minister Applauds Youth Rally Initiative
• Free Petrol For Boda-Bodas At Referendum Rally
• Reporters Without Borders Condemns Khartoum Censorship
• Students Riot in Rumbek
• Sudan Sports Latest

08-Jun-2010

• Khartoum Journalists Protest Against Arrests of Juba Colleagues
• Over 500 Deaths In Darfur In May According to UN Report
• ECOS Report Condemns Human Rights Violations In Sudan Oilfields
• Uganda Reverses Al-Bashir Invitation
• Commissioner Bans Shisha in Rumbek Central
• Sudan Sports Latest

SUDAN NEWS FROM RADIO MIRAYA

http://www.mirayafm.org/

The 8^th National Conference of the Sudanese Women's General Union launched in Khartoum on Tuesday under the theme: "National Unity with Women's Will." In his opening address, President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, expressed his government's commitment in safeguarding the constitutional rights of women.

• SPLA: Galwak Gai's rebellion in Unity State over
• SPLM hails Presidency's nominees for Southern Sudan Referendum Commission
• 10 detained journalists released in Juba