Lord Soley of Hammersmith on Iraq

Note to self, for future reference on issues of intervention. As I recall, when it came to Iraq, the UK, right from the start, told the US not to get rid of the Iraqi army but they refused to listen. Lord Soley, in his latest blog entry on Iraq says the question of intervention will be with us for some time, Iraq will not be the last difficult case. Here is an excerpt from his great speech on Iraq (see in full at Lords Hansard text for 22 Feb 2007):

It is not impossible that we will have other Kosovo-type problems around the borders of Europe, so we really do need to think about this issue of intervention.

The noble Lord, Lord Ashdown, yesterday made the point that intervention involves a plan before, a plan during the military operation and a plan after it. I do not think that it is true to say that the United States or the British Government did not have a plan for post-conflict - they did. The trouble is - and the noble Lord, Lord Jay, made this point very well - that there was not enough focus on it here, for reasons that the noble Lord, Lord Butler, has given. But, more importantly, two key mistakes were made.

The first mistake, to which a number of noble Lords have referred, was that there was a lack of sufficient numbers of troops on the ground to deal with policing the situation. The other mistake was profoundly important. If you are going to make the assumption that we have lost Iraq, although I do not think we necessarily have, the period in which we lost it was between 16 and 23 May 2003. Why? Because on 16 May Paul Bremer, who was put in charge very suddenly by the United States, took the decision to get rid of the whole civil service in Iraq just because it was B'athist. Before that, of course, you could not get a job in the civil service in Iraq unless you were a member of the Ba'ath party - so there were good and bad people in that civil service structure. Then, on 23 May, the truly disastrous decision was to get rid of the Iraqi army, sending all those people with training and knowledge of weapons and who knew where the weapons were into long-term unemployment without any pay. At that stage, we lost control on the ground.

The rest is history. See? The Americans didn't know best, like they don't know what's best for Sudan. By the way, after Iraq defied countless UN resolutions, I supported intervention in Iraq and still do.

New Arab League office in southern Sudan

The Arab League Administrative and Financial Standing Committee on Saturday approved the appointment of Mohammad Munsef Amin Murad as head of the UN mission in the southern Sudan area of Juba for a four-year mandate. A final statement issued at last year's Arab Summit in Khartoum had recommended that an Al office in Jouba should open as soon as possible. - KUNA (via SO) 24 Feb 2007.

AU says it does not have the capacity to end Darfur rebellion

Spero News article (originally appeared in Africa Reports, produced by IWPR, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting). Excerpt:

Fiona Lortan, senior political officer in the AU's defense and security division, told IWPR that the situation in Darfur will not improve unless the government accepts the entire "hybrid" peacekeeping package. "The AU does not have the capacity to end the conflict," she said. "If the situation is not resolved soon, the suffering and death toll in Darfur will increase. It is clear that the AU is not able to keep the government forces and the different rebel groups in check. They need the support of the UN as soon as possible."

Werner, a South African Military Observer currently serving in Darfur, blogged the following at Soldier of Africa 15 Feb 2007:

Another Day in "Paradise" - "I have been in Darfur long enough now. Time to go home." That is the attitude of most guys who have been here for more than eight months. For most of us it is a matter of getting the days over. I also hope that the UN takes over this mission sooner rather than later. The presence of the AU has probably prevented genocide from continuing, but it is too uncoordinated and mismanaged to do the job properly.



Photo: Maj Nawa, Maj Askvik and Snr Supt Elder, and I was taking the photo. We were trying to figure out exactly what the AU wants us to do in the JOC (Joint Operations Centre). At this stage we do not have a mission statement.

I think it is a scandal that African peacekeepers are still not paid correctly on time. Isn't there a law against such a thing? These people are paid to risk their lives to help others, miles away from home, and they're not getting paid! On 4 Feb 2007, Werner writes:

Dreaming of our Pay - I thought this photo to be appropriate since it seems we have a better chance of going to the moon than to get our money on time. When I returned from my leave in early January I received my money for October and that was the last money I have seen. This situation of late payments by the AU has been ongoing for all the time I have been here and has already forced me to have to change my leave plans once. A while back a friend of mine had to loan a woman $600 since the money she was entitled to was not yet paid to her and that would have meant she would have had to miss spending Christmas with her husband and children even though she was entitled to and had already planned her leave for this occasion. This is only one of many such problems caused to loyal members of AMIS and it seems as if nobody can or wants to change the current state of affairs.

Who is accountable for this state of affairs? And why are they getting away with it - is it corruption or incompetence or both? Hundreds of million pounds have been donated by Europe to make African peacekeepers in Africa a reality.

Head of International Committee Red Cross sees "gross violations" by all sides in Darfur

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Jakob Kellenberger, speaking after a five-day trip to Sudan which included stops in Darfur, said all sides of the conflict were committing human rights violations against civilians.

"It is a context of very gross violations of international humanitarian law, with a main responsibility on the government side, but not only on the government side. There have also been gross violations on the side of armed groups," he said.

Full story by Reuters (Stephanie Nebehay) 23 Feb 07.

Sudan's Bashir: "We're all Africans, we're all black - talk of Arabs killing blacks is a lie"

Reuters report (via ST) 24 Feb 2007 - excerpt:

[Sudan's President] Bashir acknowledged Sudan was facing a "problem" in Darfur, but placed the blame squarely on rebel groups which did not sign on to a peace agreement concluded in Abuja, Nigeria in May 2006. "There is a problem, and the main cause of that problem is the rebellion ... we've done everything to possible to try to convince those who bore arms against the state and the people ... but all efforts and mediation failed," he said.

"There's a discourse in Western media about the number of people killed in these events, and a lot of organisations and the American media refer to imaginary numbers, up to 400,000 dead. All these are false."

He dismissed claims of ethnic cleansing in Darfur. "Talk of Arabs killing blacks is a lie. The government of Sudan is a government of blacks, with all different ethnic backgrounds ... We're all Africans, we're all black."

I agree with all of the above. Read through three years of this blog and you wil see why. Pity I can't find a transcript or video link of whole discussion instead of a short report by the BBC - excerpt:

Speaking via satellite to a conference in Detroit, he [Sudan's President Bashir] said that his government welcomed help on Darfur, but not at the expense of its sovereignty.

The Sudanese leader was addressing the national conference of the American Muslim organisation, Nation of Islam, at the invitation of controversial leader Louis Farrakhan.

He said he was speaking to a US audience because he wanted to correct the "campaign of distortion by the media" towards Sudan.

Mr Bashir also accused the international community of unfairly pressurising his government.

"We welcome the help of everyone to solve our problems, including the problem of Darfur, but not at the expense of our sovereignty and the unity of our homeland," he said.

"Those who want to topple the government in Khartoum, we will not allow them to do so," he warned.

Clearly, the aim of the Darfur rebel leaders is to topple the Sudanese government - they've admitted it themselves, noted here in the archives of Sudan Watch. JEM's even talked of making Darfur their own country. I wonder if the financing and brains behind the insurgents are that of black Africans.
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See The Sudanese Thinker �on Sudan: Arab or African?

Racism in Our Subconsciousness?

See Ola's blog entry at Cinnamon Zone: Racist inner child

(via Global Voices Online - Palestine: Racism in Our Subconsciousness? 21 Feb 2007)

Languages of Sudan

See Ethnologue report for Sudan.

Chad prime minister flown to France after heart attack

Feb 21 2007 Reuters report excerpt:

Chad's Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji was flown for urgent medical treatment in France after suffering a heart attack early on Wednesday, a source at his office said.

Infrastructure Minister Adoum Younousmi will take over as the interim head of the cabinet during Yoadimnadji's absence, another government source said.

UPDATE : Reuters Feb 23 2007 (via CNN) - Chad's Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji died from a brain hemorrhage in Paris on Friday after he was flown there for urgent treatment following a heart attack. He was 56.

ICC to name Darfur suspects on Feb. 27

Feb 22 2007 Reuters report (via ST) says ongoing fighting in Darfur has hampered the work of ICC investigators, who have had to interview witnesses outside Sudan, and divisions among Darfur's rebel factions have contributed to delaying an effective peace deal with Khartoum. Excerpt:

"[ICC Prosecutor] Moreno-Ocampo will submit evidence, in connection with named individuals, of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur," his office said in a statement, adding that the prosecutor would hold a news conference at 1300 GMT on Feb. 27.

Once Moreno-Ocampo has filed the evidence, pre-trial judges will decide whether to issue summons or arrest warrants for the named individuals. Formal charges will only follow later.

For more details see ICC media advisory at http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/225.html

UNMIS says 300 Maaliya militiamen attacked S. Darfur village

UN News Centre report 21 Feb 07 - excerpt:

UNMIS reports that earlier this week about 300 Maaliya militiamen attacked a village in south Darfur, with unconfirmed reports stating that 7 people were killed and 4 injured. In west Darfur, the Mission said that eight more families of internally displaced people (IDPs) had recently arrived in El Geneina after fleeing militia attacks.

20 KILLED IN DARFUR MILITIA ATTACKS

AFP report 21 Feb 07 via ST - excerpt:

The Janjaweed militia backed by the Sudanese government killed at least 20 people in an attack in a southern region of strife-torn Darfur, a rebel official said on Wednesday.

"Hundreds of Janjaweed mounted on camels with four all-terrain vehicles attacked the area of Umm Dhai," said Kamal Eddin Haj Daoud, head of humanitarian affairs for the Sudanese Liberation Movement, the sole rebel signatory of a peace deal with the Khartoum government.

Daoud, whose statements appeared in the press, gave the names of seven dead, indicating that the others had not yet been identifed and their corpses had been burned.

He also said the pro-government militia also made off with 350 head of cattle.

Strange how the media savvy rebels have access to hi tech gadgets yet rarely, if ever, publicise photos or film footage of attacks.
- - -

See Feb 21 07 Reuters report - AU says Janjaweed massing north of el-Geneina, Darfur

Democrats disingenuous in their anti-war rhetoric

Notable quote from op-ed by Victor Davis Hanson at RealClearPolitics:

The next time a Democratic administration makes a case for using America's overwhelming military force to preempt a Milosevic or a mass murderer in Darfur - and history suggests that one will - the Democrats' own present disingenuous anti-war rhetoric may come back to haunt them, ensuring that such future humanitarian calls will probably fall on ears as deaf as they are partisan.

Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and author, most recently, of "A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War." You can reach him by e-mailing author@victorhanson.com.

AU says Janjaweed massing north of el-Geneina, Darfur

Feb 21 2007 Reuters report by Aziz el-Kaissouni (via Swissinfo - also at Aljazeera) - excerpt:

Janjaweed militias have been concentrating forces to the north of el-Geneina, the capital of Sudan's West Darfur state, an African Union military source said on Tuesday, corroborating a U.N. report.

The AU source, who asked not to be named, said: "They are massing (north of el-Geneina) ... They have vehicles with machineguns on top and they're Janjaweed. We can't say what their intentions are."

The source declined to give numbers, but described the forces gathered as a "huge amount of personnel", with pick-up trucks, camels and horses.

A U.N. mission spokeswoman said the militia numbered in the hundreds. The AU source said an African Union helicopter was keeping the force under surveillance.

A spokesman for the Sudanese military said the assembled tribesmen were preparing to migrate from the area, after having come under attack by non-Arab tribes.

"There was a clash between Arab and non-Arab tribes ... and because attacks by non-Arab tribes had increased ... they (the Arab tribe) gathered to leave the area, not to fight."

A former rebel movement said a separate Janjaweed force had been attacking villages far to the east of the Darfur region for the past two days, killing six civilians.

That Janjaweed activity was north of ed-Da'ein, a town about 450 km (300 miles) southeast of el-Geneina.

A spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the only rebel faction to sign a May peace accord with the government, said the militia had pillaged food and burnt houses in an attack which began on Monday and continued on Tuesday.

Six civilians were killed and two injured, he added.

The military spokesman blamed the violence on intertribal disputes between Zaghawa and Maalia ethnic groups, exacerbated by the involvement of militia from the SLM on the Zaghawa side.

On Monday, a report by the U.N. Mission in Sudan said "armed militia had been mobilising in large numbers over the past five days in the general area of Abou Souroug and Sliea (approximately 50 km north of el-Geneina). The reason behind the massive militia mobilisation is so far not known."

Tribal clashes in South Darfur killed up to 100 people last week, the United Nations said.

Darfur, an arid area the size of France, has been ravaged by violence since 2003, when rebels took up arms, accusing Khartoum of ignoring the region.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has resisted pressure to authorise a deployment of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers to support the 7,000-strong African Union mission, saying the AU force was strong enough and the United Nations could give money and logistical help to a hybrid force.

Bashir arrived in Libya on Tuesday for talks aimed at advance peace efforts in Darfur. The talks were due to begin late on Tuesday but were delayed until Wednesday morning because Chad's President Idriss Deby had not arrived, an official said.

The discussions will also be attended by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and U.N. and African Union envoys.

Gaddafi is expected to try to persuade the National Redemption Front Darfur rebel group to join the peace deal.

Darfur rebels say not concerned by Tripoli tripartite meeting

Darfur rebels seem to be holding up peace for Darfur. See Feb 20 2007 (Tripoli) Sudan Tribune article : Darfur rebels say not concerned by Tripoli tripartite meeting:

Darfur rebel groups denied participation in a mini-summit held in Tripoli in a bid to find a common ground allowing them to join the Darfur Peace Agreement signed last May between Sudanese government and one rebel faction.

While Abdelwahid al-Nur, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune that they were not contacted by the talk's sponsors, the spokesperson of the National Redemption Front (NRF), Ahmed Hussein Adam said they received an invitation from the Eritrean mediator but they declined it.

In Tripoli, the Libyan leader affirmed they expect the arrival of the rebel leaders to take part in the meeting.

Also, in spite of the absence of the Chadian president, the tripartite summit - with the participation of the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki - discussed Tuesday night ways to persuade Darfur holdout rebels to join the DPA.

The leader of the SLM said such meeting would not facilitate the resolution of the conflict, as the Sudanese president is not really serious to reach a peace accord. He considers that attention must be given first to the protection of the displaced by international peacekeepers and their resettlement in their villages.

The NRF spokesperson pointed out that Justice and Equality Movement had apologized for not participating because they had not been consulted beforehand over the time and place for talks. He further said that Sudanese president participates in this meeting for Public relations.

Eritrea, which had failed to convince Darfur rebels to negotiate with Khartoum in Asmara, seems attached to continue its efforts for peace in Darfur. The rebels declined the Eritrean invitation because Asmara had closed the door for the participation of the UN and the international facilitators.

Rebel groups of the NRF have good relations with the Libyan authorities but the SLM seems distancing its self from Tripoli.

It was agreed in a compromise reached in Addis Ababa on Nov. 16, 2006 between the UN, AU and the Sudanese government that "The various initiatives must be brought under one umbrella and the AU and UN are best-placed to lead a credible process." The UN and AU envoys for Darfur were absent from the summit.

Observers say it is clear that this tripartite meeting would not be followed by a decisive resolution on Darfur crisis and that it might mean to amend relations between the Libyan leader and the Sudanese president.

Last month, the Sudanese president Omar al Bashir unexpectedly skipped on a 5 way summit that was held in Sirte, Libya. Also, Libya had stopped the transfer of 50 million US dollar to the African peacekeeping force in Darfur and didn't support Sudanese candidacy for the African Union presidency.

Sudan's Bashir + Eritrean president + UN & AU envoys to meet Darfur rebels in Libya

Right on, Col Gaddafi! I hope this news report from Khartoum is true.

Copy of Kuna report Feb 19 2007:

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will leave here for Libya on Tuesday morning to meet Darfur rebels, who failed to sign Abuja peace deal.

Negotiations between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels are to be held under the sponsorship of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and to be attended by Eritrean President Isaias Afworki and UN and African Union envoys for Sudan's Darfur, the Sudan News Agency reported.

The agency quoted the Sudanese president's advisor Ali Masar as saying that the meeting would be a springboard for a fresh stage of dialogue between the Sudanese government and rebel movements in the troubled region of Darfur, which would be held in the Eritrean capital of Asmara later.

In May 2006, a peace deal was signed between the Sudanese government and main rebel movements under the patronage of the African Union. Other smaller rebel movements joined the peace deal.

But, another two rebel factions declined to ink the agreement, which, they claimed, failed to meet their expectations and demands for which they took up arms in face of the Sudanese government.

The Sudanese president has recently voiced his government's total willingness to negotiate with Darfur rebel movements which were reluctant to sign the peace deal, in a bid to put an end to the four-year armed conflict between the government and rebels, which has now left over two million people dead or homeless.

UPDATE:

Feb 21 2007 Sudan Tribune report - Darfur rebels say not concerned by Tripoli tripartite meeting

Feb 21 2007 Reuters report - AU says Janjaweed massing north of el-Geneina, Darfur

UN, AU envoys meet with Sudan's Bashir

Feb 18 2007 UN press release - excerpt:

The AU's Salim Ahmed Salim and the UN's Jan Eliasson on Saturday briefed President Omar Hassan Al Bashir on the outcome of the discussions they held with senior government officials and both signatories and non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

President Al Bashir "stressed the commitment of the Government to support the dialogue with non-DPA signatories and expressed Sudan's keenness to improve relations with Chad," according to the UN Mission in the country (UNMIS), which said the Sudanese leader also pledged to boost humanitarian work and cooperate with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Why still no news of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) - who is now running Kalma camp housing 93,000 IDPs?

250,000 Sudanese and Somali refugees living in Kenyan refugee camps

Feb 18 2007 AusAID press release (via ReliefWeb) tells us there are 250,000 Sudanese and Somali refugees living in Kenyan refugee camps.

And an additional $5.8m support for WFP's operation in Darfur will bring Australia's assistance to Sudan since May 2004 $55.6m.

Darfur rebel talks delayed

Feb 17 2007 Reuters report via Alarab - excerpt:

A conference aimed at trying to unite the divided rebels of Sudan's western Darfur region has been postponed again, this time to enable a new breakaway rebel faction to join the talks, a rebel commander said on Sunday.

Commander Jar el-Neby said that a faction had broken away from the National Redemption Front (NRF) rebel group and asked to attend the talks, prompting a delay to await their arrival.

"We believe they'll be a valuable addition to us, and thus we've decided to postpone the conference temporarily," Neby said.

He gave no new date for the meeting, originally scheduled for Monday.

Divisions among Darfur's rebel factions have been a factor in delaying peace talks with Khartoum, and the conference to try to unite their positions has been delayed many times, twice because of government bombardment.

The NRF, a coalition of rebels who rejected a peace deal with the government in May, fragmented after disagreements about whether to accept a ceasefire negotiated last month by Bill Richardson, governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico.

One of the largest rebel factions said on Thursday it had agreed to the ceasefire with the government.

Photo: A child's hand grasps barbed wire at Abu Shouk camp, located 7km north-west of Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in 2006. A planned UN human rights mission to the strife-torn region of Darfur said that it would carry on its work outside Sudan after being denied entry visas.(AFP/File/Ramzi Haidar)

Note, 17 Feb 2007 Sudan welcomes EU envoy for DDDC.

CHAD: Obstacles to getting peacekeepers on ground

Feb 17 2007 IRIN report excerpt:

As the United Nations Security Council prepares for discussions this week on sending peacekeepers to eastern Chad, aid agencies working there are pressing the humanitarian need for rapid deployment, but observers in New York say significant political and logistical obstacles remain to getting boots on the ground.

The UN Security Council has been considering sending peacekeepers to Chad since last November when it asked the UN to send an assessment mission to Chad, Sudan and CAR to the south, which has also suffered from a spill-over of fighting.

The November mission concluded Chad's government and the rebel groups there needed to reach a peace agreement before peacekeepers could go in. But in January the Security Council demanded another assessment.

The report from that mission is expected to be ready by Monday.

Britain's Security Council representative, Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, said he recognised the urgent humanitarian need for military support, and said the UN has a "responsibility" to help protect civilians there.

Britain is one of the five powerful permanent members of the Security Council (P5) with the power to veto any resolution.

"The plight of those living in Chad and north-eastern CAR, in particular those in IDP and refugee camps, is getting worse and worse as violence from Darfur spills over the border," Parry told IRIN on Friday.

"The Secretary-General's recommendations on the options available to the UN are expected soon. The Security Council should respond urgently. If a UN mission can help to provide the protection that is needed, we would support it," Parry said.

Photo: Chadian army soldiers from the refugee camp's protection force play cards and prepare dinner at the refugee camp of Gaga, eastern Chad Tuesday Feb. 13, 2007. At least 230,000 ethnic Africans have fled Darfur to take refuge in camps in neighboring Chad and their numbers are steadily growing. But the refugees crowded into 12 camps are now facing increased tensions with Chadians in a competition for scarce resources in the large, barren border region. (AP Photo/Alfred de Montesquiou)

Sudan welcomes EU envoy for DDDC

On 17 Feb 2007, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the UN to set a date for deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, it also called to enforce a non-fly zone in Darfur.

Note, excerpt from Sudanese Media Center report 18 Feb 2007:

Following his deliberations on the DPA with the European Union Envoy for Darfur-Darfur Dialogue Conference, the Presidential Advisor Majzoub Al-Khalifa told Sudan Vision Daily that Sudan welcomes the EU move as it sustains peace in Darfur. He stated that the EU, which has affirmed commitment to the DPA implementation, has identified its Envoy from among its personnel available in Sudan.

With regards to UN Human Rights Mission denied visit to Darfur, the Presidential Advisor was quoted as saying that Sudan has honored its conditioned pledge to UNSG Ki Moon to allow the HR Mission visit to Darfur. According to Khalifa Sudan has conveyed to Ki-Moon that some Mission members were classified as persona non grata for their biased stances against Sudan and, as such, they should be replaced by neutral individuals otherwise they would be rightfully rejected.

The Presidential Advisor wound up his statement by commenting that the Abuja Agreement is well in progress and that the Movements Field Commanders commitment to cease military operations demonstrates their genuine move to join the peace process.

Interview: Sudanese President Bashir

Feb 17 2007 Asharq Alawsat Newspaper, Michel Abu Najm's Interview with Sudanese President Bashir [via CFD]. Excerpt:

(Asharq Al-Awsat) There is talk about a tripartite Sudanese-Chadian-Central African summit on the sidelines of the Cannes summit. What do you hope to achieve in it?

(Al-Bashir) In the past, we held several summits of this kind. We signed several agreements with Chad, even before the Darfur problem, to control the border, which is witnessing problems because of the movement of tribes between Sudan and Chad--tribes that know no borders. There are 18 joint tribes with one leader each. They exist on both sides of the border. As for Darfur, the one that launched the rebellion there was a Chadian officer with the rank of colonel. Several rebellion leaders were Chadian officers. All the agreements we signed with the Chadians to control the border and establish a joint observation force have produced no results because of Chad's failure to honor its commitments. Members of the Chadian regime are from the same tribe that is leading the rebellion in Darfur. When Idris Deby was trying to overthrow the regime of Hissen Habre, he obtained the help of his tribe, the Zaghawa, which is present on both sides of the border. The tribe is asking him now to return the favor to their brothers in Sudan. His security and intelligence services are working to support the rebellion in Darfur. Despite the agreements and discussions, Chad has not fulfilled its commitments, although we must affirm that the existing situation does not serve the interests of Sudan or Chad. The two countries have no choice but to cooperate, because security anarchy negatively affects both sides. We want to exchange benefits and not disagreements. We hope that the summit would open the door for settling the differences.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) The Darfur issue is at the top of the political agenda of the French-African summit. How do you see the solution to the present crisis?

(Al-Bashir) Foreign parties are behind the issue. They have fabricated and exaggerated it. Frictions and conflicts have always existed between the tribes.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) But, the view of the United Nations, its organizations, and various nongovernmental organizations is different. They talk about various atrocities.

(Al-Bashir) On the issue of the report, remember the reports regarding Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction. What happened later? We think that anti-Sudan elements have turned their attention to Darfur after we had achieved peace in southern Sudan. They accused us of ethnic cleansing and that government instruments and forces are doing this. Here I want to say that Darfur is divided into three provinces with their own governments and local councils. If we look at the situation closely, we can see that the governors of two of the three provinces are from Darfur and that most of the administration, police, and security forces are from Darfur. The Darfur Arabs are nomads. Their educational level is low. Therefore, their presence in the security forces, administration, and political councils is very weak. Can you imagine that Darfur citizens are ethnically cleansing Darfur? All this is false propaganda. There is a rebellion problem in Darfur, and it is the duty of a government in any state to fight the rebellion. When war takes place, civilian victims fall, and this has been exaggerated.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) The question today is will Sudan accept a UN force, according to UN Security Council resolution 1706, to replace the African force or accept a joint force?

(Al-Bashir) We totally reject resolution 1706. Its acceptance would mean placing Sudan under UN mandate. We will not accept such a situation under any circumstances and willingly, because it would turn us into another Iraq. I want to say that we signed a peace agreement about Darfur. Deputy US Secretary of State Zoellick, the British minister of state for international cooperation, African Union envoy Salim Ahmad Salim, Head of the African Commission Umar Kunari, and representatives of the EU and the European states drafted the final copy of the agreement. The agreement called for the deployment of African forces to maintain security in Darfur.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) But, these forces have been ineffective.

(Al-Bashir) The African forces are suffering from financial problems. All the reports talked about the positive role of these forces. However, when the Western countries stopped their financial support, problems began. We think that the African force plus UN support is sufficient. What would change if the force changed hats and became a UN force?

(Asharq Al-Awsat) What would change is that a UN force operating under UN command would have a moral power not enjoyed by the current African force.

(Al-Bashir) The force is the force of the African Union. It was the mediator. The force was entrusted with the peacekeeping task in Darfur. When the peace agreement was signed, the government signed it with one rebel faction--the Sudan Liberation Army. The agreement called for sanctions against the party that did not sign the agreement if it continued to oppose it. Resolution 1706 was to the contrary. It punished Sudan. The Darfur Peace Act, which the American President signed, imposed on us additional American sanctions. On the other hand, the elements that rejected the agreement are moving freely in the Western capitals. They are receiving unrestricted financial and military aid, and because of this aid, they have succeeded in seizing control of the northern part of Darfur. We only heard subdued reactions from the world. Is this not a direct threat to Darfur and to security and peace? These movements exist in the refugee camps in Chad where they are conducting military training. Chad has opened its borders and airports to allow weapons to reach these groups and facilitate their movements to Darfur. This is taking place within the view of the United Nations and its organizations. So far, no one has condemned Chad or the states that send the weapons. They are only criticizing the government and the Janjawid.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) Can we say then that irrespective of the pressure and the mediations, Sudan absolutely rejects a UN force or a hybrid UN-African force?

(Al-Bashir) Yes, this is our position. We accepted Kofi Annan's three-stage plan. The first stage is for weak logistical support, and this is taking place. The second is for heavy support involving equipment, systems, experts, and technicians from the United Nations. This is acceptable in principle and negotiations are taking place to implement it. The third stage is the hybrid force. We have expressed reservations about it and submitted these reservations to the African Peace and Security Council, which issued a resolution that we accepted. Based on this resolution, an understanding was reached about the appointment of a special envoy of the UN secretary general, the identity of the commander of the force (African), and the way of appointing him (the African Union would nominate one and the United Nations would approve it). An understanding was also reached about accepting elements from the United Nations in this force and about the level of command. This is what we are prepared to accept, and this is what we call the African Union force plus UN support. Anything else is unacceptable to us.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) Would you show some additional flexibility in Cannes?

(Al-Bashir) We have shown flexibility, but there is a limit and beyond it, we cannot go. In short, we cannot accept an agreement that would place us under a mandate and place our justice, police, and other systems under the control of others.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) What does the United States wants from you? Does it want to change the regime in Sudan?

(Al-Bashir) Yes. There are elements in the United States that want political change in Sudan. Some groups in the US Congress, for example, are hostile to us, and whatever we do, we are unacceptable and would never be acceptable to them.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) Does the administration of President Bush want change?

(Al-Bashir) I would not say the American administration wants change. It stood by us on the issue of peace in the south. The State Department played a positive role in reaching the Abuja agreement (on Darfur).

(Asharq Al-Awsat) But, the US President has imposed new financial and economic sanctions against Sudan recently.

(Al-Bashir) The American blockade is not new. The United States economic and financial boycott is also not new, and so is the boycott maintained by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Despite this blockade, we have reorganized our economy and achieved very high levels of development. Therefore, the American measures would not affect us. We turned toward the orient, and our relations are good and close with many of its countries. Our relations are excellent with China, for example.

Sixth Rwandan peacekeeper dies in Darfur

Salute. Feb 15 2007 The New Times (Kigali) article by James Munyaneza - via allAfrica.com Feb 16:

Another Rwandan peacekeeping soldier in the troubled Sudanese western region of Darfur died on Manday morning, the military has said. The Military Spokesperson, Maj. Jill Rutaremara, told The New Times on Wednesday, that Private Cyprien Barakengera died of a suspected malaria attack. "The RDF (Rwanda Defence Forces) has already sent condolences to the family of the late comrade," Rutaremara said. He said arrangements are underway to bring the body back home. His body is currently at the mortuary in El-Fashir, the headquarters of the peace force.

Survived by a wife and three children, Barakengera, 28, has been attached to RDF 15th Battalion which is currently stationed in Zalinge (Sector Seven) in Darfur. The Battalion is under the command of Lt. Col. Jean Bosco Kananga.

The late soldier's family is in Rubavu District in the Western Province.

Rutaremara said that the deceased has been serving in the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur for over six months.

Barakengera is the sixth Rwandan soldier to die from the war-torn Darfur since the troops' deployment in August, 2004. On October 26 Corporal Gafishi Ntirenganya died when an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) he was traveling in overturned near Tawila.

Corporal David Niyonsaba was the first Rwanda soldier to die while on an AU mission. He died in a Darfur hospital on October 20, 2005 after sustaining fatal injuries in a road accident in El Fasher, north of Darfur.

He was followed by Lt. William Ntayomba, who is the most senior RDF soldier to die in Darfur. He died from electrocution.

And in August, 2006, two other RDF soldiers were killed in an ambush between El Fasher and El Nahud by one the Sudanese warring factions in Darfur.

Pte Barakengera's death came just two days before the government started the process of replacing all Rwandan troops and civilian police personnel from Darfur. Some of the troops being replaced have been in Darfur since February, 2006. The rotation involves 2040 RDF officers and men, and 49 civilian police personnel.

God bless all the peace makers.

Sudan's SPLM moves north to Khartoum

"We are going to relocate the headquarters of the SPLM to Khartoum so as to be more active in national politics," said SPLM spokesman Yasir Arman.

The SPLM headquarters was previously in the south Sudan capital Juba and observers had often criticised the SPLM for focusing on southern issues and neglecting national politics. - Reuters 16 Feb 2007 via ST.

AU head says Chad, Sudan, CAR seem ready to agree on AU/UN border peace force (BBC)

Feb 16 2007 BBC report - Chad may face genocide, UN warns - excerpt:

The warning comes as Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic signed a deal [at Africa-France summit] not to support rebels attacking each other's neighbouring territory.

African Union head, Ghana's President John Kufuor, said they seemed ready to agree to an AU/UN border peace force.

"They seem to be ready to accept a beefed-up force from the African Union and the United Nations to take control of the borders among them," Mr Kufuor told reporters at the French-African summit in Cannes where the declaration was signed.

See 24th Africa-France summit.

Don't let Chad become like Darfur, begs Oxfam (Telegraph)

The United Nations Security Council will soon decide whether to send a peacekeeping force to Chad. If approved, these troops are expected to deploy along the border with Sudan and protect civilians. - Full story by David Blair, Telegraph, 17 Feb 2007.

European Parliament urges UN force, non-fly zone in Darfur

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution urging the UN to set a date for deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, it also calls to enforce a non-fly zone in Darfur. - Full story ST 17 Feb 2007.
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UPDATE: Also, see Feb 15 2007 Aegis Trust press release (via ST 17 Feb) European Parliament takes hard line on Darfur.

Sudan's Bashir "ready" to accept UN fact finding mission on Darfur, with conditions (AP)

According to an Associated Press report today via International Herald Tribune - Sudan president "ready" to accept U.N. mission on Darfur, with conditions - excerpt:

Sudan's president said Friday he is ready to accept a U.N. fact-finding mission to Darfur, although not some of the members who have been proposed so far. He also gave no ground on a proposed U.N. peacekeeping deployment for Darfur, likening those forces to coalition troops in Iraq.

Al-Bashir suggested that Sudan could accept more African Union peacekeepers - with U.N. support.

"With regard to United Nations forces in Darfur, we have already said 'no' and that would be valid also for the frontiers. But we accept the presence of African forces to control the borders with Chad and Central African Republic," he said.

For Darfur, "we have accepted a hybrid operation. What does that mean? It means that the base of this force would be African forces, with a strong logistical, human, technical and other support so that the African Union can maintain peace," he said.

Al-Bashir said the resolution, number 1706, "practically puts Sudan under trusteeship and gives these forces a mandate similar to that of the coalition forces in Iraq."

"We cannot accept that Sudan is put under trusteeship," he said.

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See Sudan's Plan for Darfur - Letter from UN's Ban to Sudan's Bashir Jan 24 remains unanswered

Sudan's Bashir reaffirms rejection of UN force, says packages still negotiated

Feb 15 2007 Sudan Tribune report by Wasil Ali - Sudan reaffirms rejection of UN force, says packages still negotiated - excerpt:

Speaking from Cannes where the question of Darfur and Sudan-Chad dominated the Africa-France summit, al-Bashir said the deployment of UN forces "will transform the country to another Iraq."

Al-Bashir indicated in his interview that Khartoum is not prepared to make further concessions on the issue.

Sudan's leader further accused some groups in the US Congress of seeking to topple his regime through sanctions. Nevertheless he added that US Administration had helped his regime during Navaivsha to end civil war in southern Sudan, and the US State Department also played a positive role during Abuja negotiations.

He also criticized "western" nations for harboring rebel leaders and proving them with "financial and military support" which helped them to control the northern part of Darfur.

The Case of Suleiman Jamous - Boycott of Darfur Commanders' Conference

A blog entry from Kadugli, Kordofan, Sudan 4 Feb 2007 - the arbitrary detention of suleiman jamous - excerpt:

A conference of the rebel commanders of Darfur is currently being planned. This conference was the idea of Suleiman Jamous, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan Liberation Movement, who is currently trapped in the UN hospital in Kadugli, Kordofan.

The goal of the conference is to unite the rebel groups in order to be able to negotiate a sustainable and equitable solution to the conflict in Darfur. Suleiman Jamous's political experience and advice is needed at this conference in order for it to be successful. Therefore we will not attend the commanders' conference unless Suleiman Jamous is present at the conference.

Signed,
Commander Abdalla Yahya Ahmed
Commander Siddeig Burra
Commander Suleiman Maragan
Commander Jar Elnebi Abdelkarim
Commander Abdellatief Abdelhameed

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UPDATE: Feb 15 2007 Eric Reeves - Is Khartoum Interested in Darfur Peace Talks? The Case of Suleiman Jamous

Sudan's Plan for Darfur - Letter from UN's Ban to Sudan's Bashir Jan 24 remains unanswered

Sad. Excerpt from Soldier of Africa: Another Day in "Paradise" Feb 15, 2007:

"I have been in Darfur long enough now. Time to go home." That is the attitude of most guys who have been here for more than eight months. For most of us it is a matter of getting the days over. I also hope that the UN takes over this mission sooner rather than later. The presence of the AU has probably prevented genocide from continuing, but it is too uncoordinated and mismanaged to do the job properly.

Hybrid force



Photo: This is what the new UN/AU hybrid force will look like with both UN and AU insignia. For now anyway. (Photo and caption by Werner K, Soldier of Africa Jan 2007)

Still no affirmative news on AU-UN hybrid mission

Reuters report (UN's Ban raps Sudan on visas for rights monitors by Evelyn Leopold 15 Feb 2007) - excerpt:

Ban said he was awaiting a report from his special envoy Jan Eliasson of Sweden, now in Sudan, as well as an answer to a letter he sent to Bashir late last month.

"So again, this continuing deteriorating situation in Darfur is just unacceptable," Ban said. "I'm still awaiting an official reply from President Bashir to my letter of Jan. 24, which outlines our detailed positions on force generation, command and control and funding."

"With an affirmative answer, we can pave the way immediately to the introduction of an AU-UN hybrid mission," Ban said.

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SUDAN'S PLAN FOR DARFUR

Six months ago, here in the sidebar at Sudan Watch, I linked to the full text of Sudan's Plan dated 2 Aug 2006. Yesterday, after reading that US special envoy to Sudan was quoted as saying the Sudanese government has lost control, I revisited the link and extracted the following from pdf English version entitled "Plan of the Government of the Sudan for the restoration of stability and protection of civilians in Darfur":

Excerpt from letter sent by Sudanese President Bashir to UNSG Kofi Annan 2 August 2006:

I have the honour in that connection to transmit to you herewith the plan of the Government of the Sudan to restore stability and protect civilians in Darfur. It is a national plan that relies on the provisions of the Darfur peace accord signed on 5 May 2006 in accordance with the timetable contained therein. For our part, we shall work to complete the implementation of the plan by the end of this year with the cooperation of and in coordination with the parties to the Darfur peace accord and the mission of the African Union in Darfur. We also have every confidence that the United Nations will spare no effort to support this plan in such manner as we consider necessary so that the plan may achieve its objectives.

Our national plan comprises a number of priorities for returning life to normal in Darfur, among the most important of which, as specified above, are the aspects that address control over the security situation, the attainment of stability, the protection of civilians, and the strengthening of mechanisms and systems for the enforcement of the rule of law. The plan also gives special consideration to a number of quick-impact economic programmes that are indispensable to support the stability that will be achieved through other features of the plan.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Omer Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir President of the Republic of the Sudan To His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary-General of the United Nations Khartoum, 2 August 2006

Excerpt from the plan's Introduction:

The detailed plan indicated below is based on the provisions of the Darfur Peace Agreement and the timetable established in it for the implementation of those provisions. It is also based on the Sudanese Government's understanding of the current situation in Darfur and its complicated security, social, humanitarian and economic aspects. The Sudanese Government, which holds the greatest and most fundamental responsibility in this matter, will exert itself to complete the implementation of this plan by the end of the year in coordination and cooperation with the parties signatory to the Peace Agreement and the African Union, to which the Agreement accords a fundamental role in the implementation process.

Excerpt from page 5 of the English version:

Objectives:

1. To perform the undertakings of the Sudanese Government under the Darfur Peace Agreement in coordination with the African Union, in accordance with the timetable established in the Agreement

2. To gain control over the security situation and achieve stability in Darfur;

3. To deal with the threats posed by the activites of groups that have rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement;

4. To secure and protect displaced persons' camps and livestock routes;

5. To tighten cooperation with the African Union with a view to strengthening the African Mission in the Sudan;

6. To remove all the obstacles and impediments that stand in the way of the work of the African forces in Darfur.

Activity: Deployment of additional forces in Darfur to gain control of the security situation and achieve stability in coordination with the African Union
Implementation measures and means:
Phase I
4,000 Government troops
2,000 SLM troops
Timing: 1 Aug - 30 Sep 2006
What is required of United Nations and partners: Participation in demining operations, especially in farming areas, on roads and on livestock routes.

Implementation measures and means:
Phase II
8,000 Government troops
2,000 SLM troops
3,348 AU troops
Timing: 1 Oct - 31 Dec 2006
What is required of the United Nations and partners: Support for efforts to strengthen the mechanisms for the implementaiton of the Peace Agreement relating to security measures and training of the members of those mechanisms, including the representatives of the parties, in collaboration with the African Union.

Implementation measures and means:
Phase III
10,500 Government troops to consolidate the security situation
and for border control
Timing: After 1 Jan 2007

Activity: Securing and protection of displaced persons' camps
Implementation measures and means:
Deployment of 7,050 fully qualified members of the national police to secure the camps and the surrounding areas, to provide policing within camps and in areas where there are population clusters and to which people return voluntarily. Creation of police units specialised in crimes against women and children in the camps.
Timing: 1 Aug - 31 Dec 2006
What is required of the United Nations and partners: Provision of advisory expertise for the training of members of the national police and the civil police of the African Union to assist them in carrying out their missions. Provision of stationary and mobile police force crim laboratories to enhance their capacity to investigate violations, especially those directed against women and children.

Activity: Reinforcement of the African Union Mission in the Sudan
Implementation measures and means:
Guaranteeing of the provision of all the facilities and types of support provided for in the Agreement on the establishment of the Mission with a view to properly meeting the needs of the Mission and its mobility needs in a timely fashion. Maintenance of landing facilities and airport use in Darfur and expansion of such facilities to meet the Mission's strategic air transport needs.
Timing: 1 Aug - 31 Dec 2006
What is required of the United Nations and partners: Guaranteeing of the provision of the requisite levels of resources, air and land capacities and other mobility aids. Provision of both stationary and portable communication equipment to strengthen the Missions's communications network in order to cover all of Darfur. The provision of consultative expertise for the members of the Mission and training of its members in the fields of communications, administration, transport and data collection.

Photos from Darfur: Handing over ceremony of the UN Light Support Package to the AU

More great photos and captions at Soldier of Africa by SA Military Observer Werner K, currently on active service in El Fashier, N Darfur, W Sudan.



Photo: A photographer grabs a photo at the handing over ceremony of the UN Light Support Package to the AU earlier today [in Darfur, W Sudan]. This package includes night sight equipment, GPS's, sleeping bags and so forth. AMIS already has many of these items, but thus far I have had the impression that few know how to use equipment like GPS's. I hope training in the use of the new equipment is part of the package or it will mean nothing for the people of Darfur. (Photo and caption by Werner K, Soldier of Africa Jan 2007)

Swedish UN member



Photo: A Swedish police officer, now working for the UN, on parade this morning as the UN Light Support Package was handed over to the AU. (Photo and caption by Werner, K Soldier of Africa Jan 2007)

UN chief of staff



Photo: On the left is Colonel van Staden. He is the new UN chief of staff appointed for the incoming UN elements to form part of the hybrid force consisting out of UN and AU personnel. I am also seeing many more UN personnel around AMIS HQ. (Photo and caption by Werner, K Soldier of Africa Jan 2007)

UN'S Pronk: Hidden forces undermining Sudanese president authority

Don't miss Wasil Ali's fascinating interview (Sudan Tribune 12 Feb 2007) with the former UN Secretary General envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk of The Netherlands.
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Town Hall Meeting



Via Jan Pronk Weblog:

Since my departure from Sudan, having been declared persona non grata by the Government of Sudan, my deputy Mr. Taye Zerihoun, has taken over as Officer in Charge. Taye Zerihoun had been the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Sudan. In that capacity he had in particular dealt with political affairs. The second deputy, Manuel Aranda da Silva, will continue as well. He is dealing in particular with humanitarian affairs and fulfills at the same time the position of United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.

This picture has been taken at a so called Town Hall meeting attended by all staff of the United Nations Mission in Sudan, two weeks before my departure on 24 October.

From left to right: Taye Zerihoun, Jan Pronk, Manuel Aranda da Silva. Photo: Frederic Noy

US special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios says Sudanese government has lost control

Reuters report 14 Feb 2007 (via Sudan Tribune) US envoy fears "blood bath" in Darfur - excerpt:

The U.S. special envoy to Sudan said on 14 Feb 2007 he feared aid groups could be forced out of Darfur and pro-government Janjaweed militia would try to close camps sheltering millions, resulting in a "blood bath."

"The government has lost control. There is anarchy in large parts of Darfur. The risk is that if the NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) leave, the U.N. humanitarian agencies leave ... there will be no one to care for these people in the camps who can be trusted," he told Reuters in an interview.

"There is a potential for an explosion if the agencies leave that would match the risk to people of the 2003 and 2004 time period," he said.

He said U.S. diplomacy would focus on protecting the humanitarian aid effort in Darfur.

"It is a matter of people's lives being protected and preventing the expulsion of the aid community and any attacks on the camps. It affects people's lives in a very direct sense," he said.

The United States is losing patience with Sudan's government over its handling of Darfur and is considering a more robust response to put pressure on Khartoum, a strategy Natsios has referred to as "Plan B."

He declined to provide any details of Plan B, saying it was classified.

24th Africa-France summit - Sudan president says Darfur rebels Western-backed

Feb 16 2007 Reuters - Sudan president says Darfur rebels Western-backed - excerpt:

Speaking to the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on the sidelines of African talks in the French city of Cannes, Bashir said that instead of punishing rebels that rejected the peace deal, a United Nations resolution had put the onus on Khartoum.

"The elements that reject the agreement move with freedom in Western capitals and receive financial and military support ... and due to this support have been successful in controlling the northern section of Darfur," Bashir said. "Is this not a direct threat to Darfur and to security and peace?"

Photo: French President Jacques Chirac, left, welcomes his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. Crises in the Sudanese region of Darfur and in Guinea overshadowed the gathering of 40 heads of state and government. The leaders of Sudan, Central African Republic and Chad were likely to meet on the sidelines to discuss Darfur. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)



Photo: French President Jacques Chirac welcomes his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)



Photo: French President Jacques Chirac, left, welcomes his Central African Republic counterpart Francois Bozize at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)

Feb 15 2007 AP report via Sudan Tribune - Chad's foreign minister says Darfur meeting "useless" - excerpt:

A source close to French President Jacques Chirac said the three countries' presidents were likely to meet at a French-African summit in the French seaside resort of Cannes.

"This same meeting is useless because it is aimed at distracting international public opinion and moving it away from the real problem, which is that Sudan is attacking Chad," said Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi.

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France says progress made in Darfur crisis

UPDATE Feb 16 2007 AP report by John Leicester - excerpt:

Looking to end the crisis in Darfur, France won agreement on Thursday from three involved African countries that they would not support armed rebel movements on each other's territories.

Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic made the commitment in a declaration signed Thursday night, on the sidelines of an African summit that France hosted in the Riviera city of Cannes.

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UPDATE People's Daily Online -- Sudanese President calls for UN support: A mini-summit, which is organized on the sidelines of the 24th France-Africa summit, ended up in the Cannes declaration on Darfur. The declaration, which was signed by Chad, Central Africa Republic and Sudan, reiterates commitment by the three countries to respect each other's sovereignty and not to support armed rebel groups in accordance with the Tripoli accord.

UN's Eliasson & AU's Salim arrive in Um Rai for a meeting with key commanders of non-signatory rebel groups to the DPA

Photo: U.N. Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson (L) and African Union Special Envoy for Darfur Salim Ahmed Salim (C) arrive in Um Rai February 14, 2007, for a meeting with key commanders of the non-signatory rebel groups to the DPA (Darfur Peace Agreement). Picture taken on February 14, 2007. REUTERS/Tim Mckulka UNMIS/Handout (SUDAN).

UPDATE: See Feb 15 2007 Sudan Tribune article - AU, UN enovys say security and aid needed in Darfur before talks - for near verbatim transcript of the opening remarks of UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy Jan Eliasson for Darfur and African Union Special Envoy for Darfur Salim Ahmed Salim made during the Joint Press Conference they held on 15 February 2007 at UNMIS Press Briefing Room, Ramsis Building - Khartoum.

Telegraph's David Blair may be related to family who adopted Tony Blair's dad

Snippet from David Blair's blog entry Feb 15 - Rest assured - we're not related:

My understanding is that the Prime Minister's father was adopted by a family called Blair, and so he took their name and passed it on to his son.

But for this quirk of fate, the Prime Minister would have a different surname. It's just about possible that I might be distantly related to the family who adopted Blair's dad, but not to the man himself.

If any of you were curious, I hope this sets your mind at rest.

I didn't know Tony Blair's father was adopted. I'd like to see an experienced Africa correspondent like David Blair interview PM Blair about what he thinks of Sudanese rebel groups operating out of Europe and the UK. Who is behind them? How are they funded? Who buys and plants landmines in South Sudan and Darfur in Western Sudan? Horrible. Murky. Shudder.

Chad may face genocide, UN warns (BBC)

From the BBC: Chad may face genocide, UN warns 16 Feb 2007:

Eastern Chad and Darfur have a similar ethnic make-up, with nomadic Arab groups and black African farmers both seeking access to land and scarce water points.

Our reporter says the violence in Chad follows the same pattern as in Darfur - mostly Arabs on camels and horseback attacking non-Arab villages.

I wonder how the reporter can tell who is Arab or non-Arab.

European commissioner regrets inaction by Sudan on U.N. plan

"We don't see any positive moves by Bashir," said Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid.

"The time to deliver is now," Michel told reporters at European Commission headquarters. - AP 13 Feb 2007 via IHT.

UNMIS calls for resumption of aid around Tawila N. Darfur - 110,000 people displaced from Deribat, S. Darfur - UN, AU envoys arrive in Khartoum

UN News Center press release 12 Feb 2007 via HDA - excerpt:

As the envoys are visiting Sudan, the Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative to the country, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, is travelling to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to participate in the AU meeting on Sudan and Chad.

A separate UN Human Rights Council fact-finding team is also in the region, travelling to Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Darfur to evaluate the situation.

The high-level mission has been tasked with assessing human rights in Darfur.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported today that fresh violence in South Darfur since December has displaced at least 110,000 people from the area around Deribat.

In North Darfur, the Mission called for the resumption of humanitarian operations around Tawila, which had been vacated by UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) because of recent instability.

- - -

Feb 13 2007 Middle East Online report - Several killed in Darfur clashes - excerpt:

According to one official cited by the Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper, 11 people were killed and nine wounded in the fighting in southern Darfur between an unidentified armed group and members of the Abala tribe.

Two other papers, Assahafa and Rai al-Shaab said five people died and 15 were wounded and quoted another official as saying the clashes were between rival tribes.

UN sends advance mission to Sudanese border (Reuters)

The United Nations is preparing to send an advance mission to the Chad-Sudan border area ahead of a possible deployment of United Nations forces there, a UN official said on Monday. - Reuters 13 Feb 2007 via Africast.

World Bank head lauds China's Africa interests after prickly words

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said China might be in a better position than more advanced economies such as the United States and European Union to deliver development expertise to Africa because of its own recent experience in bringing about rapid economic development. - dpa via jurnalo 13 Feb 2007.

Turabi urges reconciliation among the Sudanese?

Al-Turabi said heatedly "we have learned the lesson after the harm done to us by military coups". He urged political parties to wage elections through unifying ranks against Al-Bashir's ruling party, the National Congress; Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported. Full story Sudan Tribune 13 Feb 2007.

Note, the report tells us:

He said that the lack of justice domestically has brought in the International Criminal Court, adding that some influential persons fear they will meet the same fate as Serbia's rulers.

He made redressing this situation contingent on reconciliation among the Sudanese. "Reconciliation among the people of Sudan can be revived and this can supersede international courts", he said.

I wonder what Mr Turabi thinks about the janjaweed and Abyei.

Fake website about D-UNSG?

See UNSG.org - Fake website about D-UNSG?

Telegraph's Diplomatic Correspondent David Blair

The Daily Telegraph's Africa Correspondent David Blair is now the Daily Telegraph's Diplomatic Correspondent.

David also authors Telegraph Blog - excerpt:

One of the key problems that journalists face is that readers often assume they agree with people they quote in their reports. So as I begin this job, can I make one request? When I quote the allegations or opinions of others, please do not assume that I share them.

Heh. Keep on blogging David!

SPLM must seek for Sudan's Presidency in 2008 election - governor

The governor and chairman of SPLM in Eastern Equatoria state, Brig. Aloisio Emor Ojetuk said SPLM is very popular in Khartoum and also it's enjoying majority respect among southern Sudanese. Therefore, he adds, SPLM must seek for the bigger leg in the forthcoming election of 2008; "By bigger leg, I mean an SPLM member to rule the Sudan" he clarified.

Full story by Isaac Vuni via ST 7 Feb 2007.

The Birth of Africom

US President GW Bush annnounced on Tuesday he had given approval for the new command, Africom, which will be based initially in Stuttgart, Germany, but later move to an African location yet to be determined.

See ComingAnarchy.com on The Birth of Africom plus this comment posted by lirelou Feb 8, 2007:

So, Africom has been spun out of Eucom, which had planning responsibility for Africa outside of Centcom's area prior to this. They'll waste a lot of money if they move to an African location. Back in the early 80's, when we were looking to base a single (SF) battalion in Africa, the only country who showed any real interest was Somalia, which was officially Marxist. Whoever decided to forego that offer showed wisdom and/or foresight. Note that what they are doing here is creating more planning staffs, but not more troops on the ground. (What increases are planned are targeted to the GWOT and OIF) More generals, more staffs, more paper, more pressure to "prove their worth" by getting pro-active. They could have passed the mission to Southcom and saved the money. Our defence dollars need to be spent more wisely.

Iranian president to visit Sudan on 12th February

Khartoum (Sudanvisiondaily) 1 Feb 2007 - excerpt

The Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr Lam Akol met his Iranian counterpart Monjuhar Moutaki met yesterday and they discussed the bilateral relations between their two countries. Meanwhile it was announced that the Iranian President Ahmed Nijadi will visit Sudan on February 12th. The Ministry of foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ali Al-Sadig told SUNA that the two Ministers discussions stressed the bilateral relations with regard to investment, basic infrastructure and other economical projects.

(hat tip clarification of fact blog)

Map of Chinese leader's Africa tour

Black Looks has posted a graphic.

Defining the African Diaspora

Annie at Black Looks thinks the African diaspora cannot survive.

US's Natsios: "The term genocide is counter to the facts of what is really occurring in Darfur"

Feb 8 2007 report by Mariam Khan (The Georgetown Voice) Natsios describes on-going Sudanese crisis. Excerpt:

The on-going Darfur crisis is no longer a genocide situation, according to U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios. Natsios, a Professor in the School of Foreign Service, spoke on Wednesday in Gaston Hall.

Natsios did note, however, that genocide had previsouly occured in Darfur, amidst the ongoing conflict between inhabitants of the Sudanese region and government-backed Janjaweed militias.

Darfur has been a hot button issue since 2003. 2.5 million people have been displaced and over 400,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, according to Natsios.

"The place is littered with mass graves," he said. Over 2,000 villages were destroyed from the beginning of the war in 2003 to the present, according a United Nations count cited by Natsios.

Natsios pointed to property issues as a major aspect of the conflict, explaining that the Arab Janjaweed militia has been destroying homes and taking the land and animals.

"Without property in Darfur, you will die," he said. "You cannot go back to your homes because you have nothing to live off of."

Natsios called Darfur a catastrophe, but said that he is opposed to continuing to use the word genocide, which President Bush and the State Department use to describe the situation in Darfur.

"The term genocide is counter to the facts of what is really occurring in Darfur," he said.

- - -

UPDATE: Via CFD Feb 16 2007 - Correction From The Georgetown Voice: While we stand by our account that Natsios is opposed to using the word "genocide" to continue to describe the current situation in Darfur, the article should have included a sentence stressing that Natsios still believes that, at its height, the crisis constituted a "genocide."

Ceasefire Joint Commission meets in Al Fashir for the first time - chaired by Acting Head of AMIS Madame Monique Mukaruliza

I hope this is all true. Via Sudanese Media Center:

Tuesday 6 February 2007
Khartoum (Sudanvisiondaily)

The Ceasefire Joint Commission will hold its fifth meeting today in the town of Al Fashir North Darfur for the first time following holding of former meetings in the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa. The meeting will be chaired by Acting Head of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Madame Monique Mukaruliza AMIS Spokesman Nourelddine Mezni told Sudan Vision that the commission's' meeting in Al Fashir comes in implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

According to Mezni the committee will review at its meeting in Al Fashir the report by the African Union Forces Commander and Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission Major General Aprezi on the security situation in Darfur and the ten ceasefire violations that recently took place.

Mezni was further reported to have said that the meeting of the tripartite committee for implantation of the UN support packages to AU has been adjourned from today to February 14th due to the participation of the mechanism members in the ceasefire commission meetings.

Mezni said its expected that UN Envoy to Sudan Ian Elission and the AU Envoy Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim will visit Sudan within the coming few days to reactivate the peace process in Darfur. Mezni said the date of the two envoys visit will be specified later.

Sudan's Bashir denies Chinese pressure on Darfur

Sudanese President is convinced China has never been, will never be tool for US pressure on Sudan - see Middle East Online today: Beshir denies Chinese pressure on Darfur - excerpt:

"The Chinese president did not convey any US demands on the situation in Darfur during his recent state visit to the Sudan," Beshir told the independent Al-Sudani daily.

Beshir said that during their meeting last Friday, Hu had asked him to "continue implementing the Abuja agreement and working to improve the situation on the ground".

Hu :renewed his commitment to offering full support to my government to enable it to implement its declared Darfur programme, particularly after he was briefed on our position which advocates dialogue and a peaceful settlement".

"Our conviction is that China has never been and will never be a tool for US pressure on Sudan," Beshir told Al-Sudani.

Washington -- which accuses the Sudanese regime of genocide in Darfur -- sent envoy Andrew Natsios to Beijing last month to seek increased diplomatic coordination with Khartoum's key ally.

Sudan's FVP Kiir rules out renewed war in south

KUNA news report (via ReliefWeb) 4 Feb 2007 - excerpt:

[Sudan's first VP] Mayardit emphasized that his movement believes in Sudan's volitional, rather than compulsory, unity, opining that "unity is better than separation as far as public interest is concerned." He called on all Sudanese political forces to work together to find a way out of the Sudanese crisis by means of implementing the comprehensive peace deal between south and north Sudan.

Concerning his peace initiative, he said it focused on all-out interest among the region's tribes, urging tribal leaders and Darfur dignitaries to step up efforts to make his initiative successful.

World Bank launches initiative to promote Sudan's civil society action

World Bank is delaying the long overdue help that was pledged for South Sudan. Via ST today:

The World Bank Sudan Country office launched "Sudan Development Marketplace (DM) for 2007" initiative to identify innovative development ideas for delivering results, engage directly with stakeholders working at community level, create a forum of knowledge sharing and dissemination and build partnerships with and between other development actors.

How long will it take them to sort that out? See two comments at Sudan Watch entry - EU blames World Bank for delaying South Sudan reconstruction:

2 Comments:

ELIE SMITH REPORT11 said...
It is kind of strange that, the World bank is still bugged down with her bureaucracy. I thought that, with the appointment of Paul Wolfowizt as her New boss things were going to change. However, I am also certain that, poor Wolfowizt may be having a tough time to change the old communist style of work at the World bank. The sad thing is that, people in Sudan and South Sudan in particular are suffering.

January 20, 2007
Anonymous said...
From what I've been told the real problem has been the refusal of the World Bank to deploy senior people to Juba to run this MDTF fund. Every decision on funding a project has to be relayed to regional centres and then to World Bank headquarters. Not surprising that it's been so slow to disburse money. The only developments in Juba at the moment seem to ones directly funded by the government of southern Sudan... that's if you exclude the extremely plush Joint Donor Office which the donors have built themselves... easily the most stylish construction in southern Sudan. Interesting priority.

If anyone has a photo of the Joint Donor Office, please email me, I'd like to share it here for posterity. Thanks.

Sudan names ex Darfur rebels in executive posts and parliament

In a new move towards the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, the Sudanese president has named one former rebel as state minister and another one in a leading position in Darfur administration.

This move indicates a shift in the policy of the Sudanese government which delayed the implementation of the DPA saying the signatories factions have to wait that holdout rebel groups join the deal. - ST 5 Feb 2007.

Statement by AU Ceasefire Commission on killing of AMIS Civpol monitor

Reprint of 1 Feb 2007 AU press statement (via The DARFUR Blog):

AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE
UNIAO AFRICANA
Headquarters Ceasefire Commission African Union Mission in SudanEl-Fasher SudanFax: +249-731-831457, e-mail: aucfc2005@yahoo.com

Press Statement by the AU Ceasefire Commission on the killing of an AMIS Civpol monitor

The AU Ceasefire Commission is shocked by the news of the killing of an AMIS CIVPOL monitor who was shot dead today 1 February 2007 by unknown gunmen who snatched the AMIS vehicle in which the officer with two other colleagues were riding in.

The Ceasefire Commission condemns the shooting of the officer who was unarmed and performing his normal patrol duty in an IDP camp at the time.

It is to be recalled that on 10 December 2006 an AMIS military officer was abducted along with his vehicle by unknown persons and has not been found to date. Also, on 22 December 2006 and on 26 January 2007 AMIS vehicles were hijacked by unknown persons.

AMIS is calling on the perpetrators to desist from such ruthless acts and is strongly appealing to them to handover the officer unconditionally and return the vehicles they have snatched without further delay.

Once again the AU Ceasefire Commission would like to remind the perpetrators that AMIS is here to help Sudan make peace and is not part of the conflict in Darfur.

El Fasher, 1 February 2007

UN: Darfur using child soldiers

Child soldiers are increasingly being used in Darfur, says a United Nations official, even when their use is on the decline elsewhere in Sudan. - News24 (SA) 2 Feb 2007.
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Reuters: SUDAN: Conscription of children, sexual abuse unabated in Darfur - UN envoy

Sudan Tribune: Sudan commits to reinforce child protection - excerpt:

Ms. Salah reiterated the commitment of UNICEF to supporting national authorities in addressing the protection and wellbeing of all children in Sudan, saying that "the children of this country dream of being free from a culture of war and fear and we are ready to walk hand-in-hand with the people of Sudan to achieve this goal."

For further information, please contact: Luca Solimeo, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict – Cell (+249) 912 178 250

Laurence Gerard, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, New York. Phone: +1 212 963 0984 - gerardl@un.org - Website: www.un.org/children/conflict

Radhia Achouri Spokesperson United Nations Mission in Sudan – Khartoum Office: (+249) 187 086 029 - Cell: (+249) 912 392 270 - achouri@un.org

Scottish bagpipes greet Chinese president in Sudan

Photo: Sudan's presidential guard plays military anthems with bagpipes (a legacy of British colonial times) to greet visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao in Khartoum on Friday Feb 2 2007. Chinese President Hu Jintao urged his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir on Friday to work harder to bring more Darfur rebels into the peace process, a Sudanese official and the state-run SUNA news agency said. Hu raised the issue during a closed-door meeting during the Chinese leader's landmark visit, the first ever by a Chinese president to Sudan. (AP Photo / Alfred de Montesquiou)

Note, Wikipedia tells us:

"European militaries contributed to the development of Sudanese music by introducing new instruments and styles; military bands, especially the Scottish bagpipes, were renowned, and set traditional music to military march music.

In 1999, Sudan was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world. It had nearly 600 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages and dialects. "

Photo: Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) and his wife Liu Yongqing wave apon arrival at the airport in Douala, Cameroon, on 31 January 2007. (AFP/Xinhua)



Photo: Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir. (AFP/Isam Al-Haj)



Photo: Chinese oil workers at a joint Chinese-Sudanese refinery greet China's President Hu Jintao on Friday in Aljaili on Friday Feb 2 2007. (AP Photo/Alfred de Montesquiou)



Photo: Sudan President Omar al-Beshir (L) shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the African Union summit on January 29. Ban has urged patience to end the bloodshed in Darfur and voiced hope that Sudan would keep a pledge to allow a joint African Union-United Nations force in the war-torn region. (AFP/File/Don Emmert)

Africa Bloggers Appreciation

See The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business: Africa Bloggers Appreciation.

CAR signs peace deal with rebels

Feb 3 2007 BBC report excerpt:

Central African Republic Justice Minister Paul Otto and the leader of the opposition Democratic Front, Abdoulaye Miskine, signed the peace accord in the Libyan town of Sert.

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi and some diplomats were also present.

The opposition leader of the other main rebel movement, Abakar Sabon, is expected to sign this peace accord from his prison cell in the west African country of Benin, where he is currently being held, the BBC's Rana Jawad in Sert says.

This latest peace deal is seen as a significant step for the Central African Republic's national reconciliation process, but it remains to be seen whether it will be implemented on the ground, our correspondent says.

China, Sudan ink seven cooperation accords

President Omar al-Bashir and Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the signing of seven agreements between the two countries in the various fields of economic and technical cooperation at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum on Friday.

The two sides also signed agreement on implementation of two schools in the rural areas in Sudan and another one for establishment of a centre for agricultural technology. - ST



Photo: President Hu Jintao and his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, inspect an honor guard at Khartoum airport yesterday. Hu pledged a new level of cooperation between China and Sudan at the start of the Chinese leader's two-day visit to the country.

Feb 3 2007 Shanghai Daily: Hu greets Sudan with aid, new deals

Feb 3 2007 Shanghai Daily: President Hu puts forward principle on Darfur issues

President Hu invites Sudan's Salva Kiir to visit China

The Chinese President Hu Jintao met Friday with the Sudanese First Vice president Salva Kiir at the Hilton Hotel in Khartoum. Hu Jintao at the end of the meeting invited Salva Kiir to visit Beijing to discuss who China can contribute to Southern Sudan development. - ST



Photo: Chinese president shakes hands with Sudanese FVP Kiir (Source: ST)

China's Hu pledges a new presidential palace to Sudan's Al-Bashir

Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Friday to have a new presidential palace built for Sudan's President Omar al- Bashir as part of a series of economic deals.

These also include grants and loans for infrastructure projects including schools and roads for its main oil supplier. - DPA 2 Feb 2007.

Tutu dedicates Gandhi Prize in India to Darfur, Burmese leader

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has dedicated the receipt of India's highest international honour, the Gandhi Peace Prize, to "the people of South Africa, to the freedom of Darfur and to Aung Sans Suu Kyi", the Burmese leader held under house arrest. - Ecumenical News International 1 Feb 2007.

Gunmen kill AU peacekeeper in Darfur's Kassab refugee camp, N Darfur

Barbarians. AP report (via IHT) Feb 1, 2007 - excerpt:

Gunmen shot dead an African Union peacekeeper as he was driving through a Darfur refugee camp on Thursday, the peacekeeping force said in a statement.

"We deeply condemn this attack against our force, who came to protect the people of Darfur," AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni said.

In New York, the United Nations said it too condemned the attack and was "particularly alarmed at the fact that the killing happened inside an Internally Displaced People's camp."

The AU said unidentified gunmen ambushed three peacekeepers as they were patrolling in a car. The gunmen killed the one peacekeeper, a police officer of the unarmed Civpol unit, and hijacked the car.

The other two peacekeepers were not wounded, but the AU statement did not explain how they managed to escape injury.

The victim, whose name and nationality were withheld pending notification of his family, was the 11th peacekeeper to be killed in action since the AU force deployed in Darfur in June 2004.

Located next to the town of Kutum, Kassab lies in one of Darfur's most violent areas where rebels, soldiers and members of the pro-government janjaweed militia have clashed repeatedly in recent months.

UN's Pronk says UN should finance AU force in Darfur

Photo: The U.N. Secretary General's former representative in Sudan, Jan Pronk, gestures during a lecture at the Institute for Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday Jan. 30, 2007 (Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

I say, Jan Pronk deserves a medal for his efforts on behalf of the UN and people of Sudan. See AP report by Alfred de Montesquiou, 30 Jan 2007 - Sudan pushes aid groups to breaking point (via G&M) - excerpt:

Jan Pronk, a former U.N. envoy to Darfur, said Tuesday the world body should rethink its global peacekeeping operations and finance more missions by local or regional peace troops.

Mr. Pronk said in a lecture at the Netherlands' Institute of Social Studies that the U.N. could use the money it would spend on its own peacekeeping operation to finance another military force to carry out the task, such as the African Union in Darfur.

"They have good troops," he said, many of them with experience in U.N. peace missions to Bosnia or elsewhere. "I'm very positive about the African Union in Darfur."

Mr Pronk's suggestion seems the best and only real way forward, quick too. What's wrong with the UN funding AMIS and providing equipment, training and advice? Anarchy needs quelling before refugees can return home.



Sudan has existed since the year dot but these days does not have time on its side. Scientists say Sudan's increasing water shortages and climate change will, within a decade or two, make water more important than oil. Millions of poverty stricken people in other countries - where far worse things are happening (ie northern Uganda) - desperately need help. Sudan needs to grow and farm a lot more food. The fantastic Chinese backed Merowe Dam, expected to be completed in a few years time, is being built in northern Sudan (more on this later as I check on some facts).

Chinese president tells Sudan counterpart he must do more for peace in Darfur

Some of today's news reports suggest Chinese President Hu might not use his first visit to Khartoum to press hard on abuses, commerce only.

Feb 2 2007 AP report (via IHT) - Chinese president tells Sudan counterpart he must do more for peace in Darfur -

Chinese President Hu Jintao urged Sudan's Omar al-Bashir on Friday to work harder to bring more Darfur rebels into the peace process, a Sudanese official told The Associated Press.

Hu raised the issue during a closed-door meeting during the Chinese leader's landmark visit. The official, who was at the meeting but spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Chinese leader told al-Bashir his "government should work more earnestly to get the rebels who did not sign the Darfur peace agreement to join the peace process."

And the tribal leaders - not forgetting janjaweed - too please!

The Juba Post : Job vacancies

Current vacancies are advertised in THE JUBA POST.
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Click here for Feb. 06, 2009 Multiple vacancies announcement: local Sudanese needed in Southern Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, and Warrap States.

Timeline: Sudan (BBC)

Timeline: Sudan via BBC 24 Jan 2007.

Chinese oil CPCN to improve Sudan social facilities

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) began its business in Sudan in 1995 and has since then donated more than 30 million dollars in charity activities. - Xinhua via ST 1 Feb 2007.