Questions over the ownership of oil-rich Ba area of Southern Sudan was put to rest last week when Paul Mayom Akech, legal adviser of the government of Southern Sudan, officially launched oil explorations jointly with British oil and gas exploration company White Nile Ltd in Padak in Jonglei State.
Full report by Philip Ngunjiri, The East African February 7, 2006 via AllAfrica.
Note, Sudan Watch entry April 3, 2005 "Oil found in South Darfur" contains copy of report "Oil issues threaten to derail Sudan hopes for peace." [See below news reports of violence in South Darfur]
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Fighting in Jonglei, South Sudan
Sudanese presidency asks SPLA to explain Jonglei fighting - Khartoum has demanded an explanation from the SPLM re incidents it said occurred in the Jonglei area in South Sudan at the end of last week. - Sudan Tribune Feb 7.
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Further reading on South Darfur, Western Sudan:
Feb 7, 2006 Controlled anarchy at Kalma camp in South Darfur
Feb 4, 2006 South Darfur: Mershing's entire population of 55,000 fled to Menawashi after raids by Janjaweed
Feb 3, 2006 AU says SLA attacks in Shearia and Golo provoked Sudanese forces and prompted reprisal attacks by Janjaweed
Feb 1, 2006 South Darfur: Janjaweed attack IDP camps Kele, Silo, Tege, Um Gozein, Ton Kittir - Mass exodus from Mershing - Joint Sudan/AU forces to patrol?
Jan 29, 2006 Major escalation of violence in Jebel Marra Darfur forces aid agencies to evacuate - UN condemns attack by SLA on Golo
Jan 19. 2006 Firewood patrols for IDPs at Kalma Camp, South Darfur
May 15, 2004 Khartoum wants control over Darfur. The reason is simple: a possible oil pipeline through Darfur. See essay by Dr R.S. O'Fahey, professor of African history at University of Bergen, Norway, and African studies program at Northwestern University" W. Sudan: a complex ethnic reality with a long history
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Controlled anarchy at Kalma camp in South Darfur, Sudan
35 year old Andrew Heavens (pictured below) is a journalist based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Meskel Square is his weblog about Ethiopia.
Here are some photos Andrew took during a three-day press trip to El-Fashir in Northern Darfur and Nyala in Southern Darfur with the African Union.
Text is from report by Refugees International Feb 6, 2006 about women in Kalma camp, Darfur by Advocates Sally Chin and Sarah Martin who visited Darfur in December.
Photo: Andrew Heavens (right) with media on African Union helicopter from El-Fashir to Nyala in Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
"Controlled anarchy" is how one humanitarian worker described Kalma camp, in South Darfur. Located 17 kilometers outside of Nyala, Kalma camp is also one of Darfur's largest, with nearly 90,000 inhabitants.
Most have lived there for nearly two years, fleeing the fighting between rebel groups and government-sponsored Janjaweed militias.
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
There is no Sudanese government presence or police in Kalma camp. After the government police attempted to arrest of one of the sheikhs, the angry population chased the police and the government camp managers out, burning down their offices. So the police are now stationed a few kilometers outside the entrance to the camp.
Photo: African Union soldier from Nigeria at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
In retaliation for being thrown out of the camp, the Sudanese government has cracked down hard on Kalma, blocking all commercial trade to the camp for months.
Recently, the African Union set up a police station inside the camp, bringing some modicum of security. AU civilian police, however, have only a couple of vehicles and one translator at each camp, making routine patrolling difficult.
Photo: African Union soldier controlling crowd at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
In addition to the commercial blockade which has depleted the market in the camp, the World Food Program didn't distribute food for months due to an internal dispute over registration. The displaced at Kalma camp depend almost exclusively on international assistance for their subsistence. They are far from their planting fields, their main source of livelihood before the conflict.
Photo: African Union soldiers at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
The women from Kalma venture out of the camps to gather firewood, both for their own use and to sell. They also collect the long grass that grows in the desert to feed their donkeys and to braid mats and rugs. Outside the camps they are at risk of attack from bandits and other armed groups. Rape is common. They also come into conflict with nomads who also depend on the same grass for their cattle and other animals.
Photo: Crowd at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
At other camps around Nyala, the African Union had set up a regular system of firewood patrols. They hadn't done so yet at Kalma, because of the lack of presence of government of Sudan police. "Since Ramadan," Khadija told RI, "I have only seen the African Union once. He spoke to us and told us to finish up our gathering and go back."
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan. The placard reads: "We need international forces to protect us." (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Photo: View of desert outside El-Fashir, northern Darfur, Sudan from African Union helicopter (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Here are some photos Andrew took during a three-day press trip to El-Fashir in Northern Darfur and Nyala in Southern Darfur with the African Union.
Text is from report by Refugees International Feb 6, 2006 about women in Kalma camp, Darfur by Advocates Sally Chin and Sarah Martin who visited Darfur in December.
Photo: Andrew Heavens (right) with media on African Union helicopter from El-Fashir to Nyala in Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
"Controlled anarchy" is how one humanitarian worker described Kalma camp, in South Darfur. Located 17 kilometers outside of Nyala, Kalma camp is also one of Darfur's largest, with nearly 90,000 inhabitants.
Most have lived there for nearly two years, fleeing the fighting between rebel groups and government-sponsored Janjaweed militias.
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
There is no Sudanese government presence or police in Kalma camp. After the government police attempted to arrest of one of the sheikhs, the angry population chased the police and the government camp managers out, burning down their offices. So the police are now stationed a few kilometers outside the entrance to the camp.
Photo: African Union soldier from Nigeria at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
In retaliation for being thrown out of the camp, the Sudanese government has cracked down hard on Kalma, blocking all commercial trade to the camp for months.
Recently, the African Union set up a police station inside the camp, bringing some modicum of security. AU civilian police, however, have only a couple of vehicles and one translator at each camp, making routine patrolling difficult.
Photo: African Union soldier controlling crowd at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
In addition to the commercial blockade which has depleted the market in the camp, the World Food Program didn't distribute food for months due to an internal dispute over registration. The displaced at Kalma camp depend almost exclusively on international assistance for their subsistence. They are far from their planting fields, their main source of livelihood before the conflict.
Photo: African Union soldiers at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
The women from Kalma venture out of the camps to gather firewood, both for their own use and to sell. They also collect the long grass that grows in the desert to feed their donkeys and to braid mats and rugs. Outside the camps they are at risk of attack from bandits and other armed groups. Rape is common. They also come into conflict with nomads who also depend on the same grass for their cattle and other animals.
Photo: Crowd at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
At other camps around Nyala, the African Union had set up a regular system of firewood patrols. They hadn't done so yet at Kalma, because of the lack of presence of government of Sudan police. "Since Ramadan," Khadija told RI, "I have only seen the African Union once. He spoke to us and told us to finish up our gathering and go back."
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Photo: African Union soldier at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan. The placard reads: "We need international forces to protect us." (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Photo: View of desert outside El-Fashir, northern Darfur, Sudan from African Union helicopter (Courtesy Andrew Heavens)
Sudan reiterates opposition to UN peacekeepers for Darfur
Sudanese officials have portrayed plans for UN involvement as part of a Western plot to weaken Sudan, reports Associated Press Feb 7, 2006:
US Will Move "Fast" And "Far" On Darfur
See US Department of State report February 6, 2006 entitled Sudan: U.S. envoy Bolton says US will move "fast" and "far" on Darfur - via ReliefWeb.
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Two UNHCR officials briefly abducted in Chad
Reuters Feb 7 says two UNHCR officials were briefly abducted in Chad by gunmen and driven towards Darfur, but were freed when their vehicle got a puncture, U.N. officials said on Tuesday.
"There are some invisible hands that continue to manipulate the question of Darfur for tearing up the unity of Sudan in preparation for controlling and looting its resources," President Omar al-Bashir was quoted by the Sudan Media Center as saying on Tuesday. The agency said the president made the remarks at the opening of a regional medical meeting in his capital.- - -
US Will Move "Fast" And "Far" On Darfur
See US Department of State report February 6, 2006 entitled Sudan: U.S. envoy Bolton says US will move "fast" and "far" on Darfur - via ReliefWeb.
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Two UNHCR officials briefly abducted in Chad
Reuters Feb 7 says two UNHCR officials were briefly abducted in Chad by gunmen and driven towards Darfur, but were freed when their vehicle got a puncture, U.N. officials said on Tuesday.
Monday, February 06, 2006
One of the world's most wanted men: Ugandan LRA terrorist group chief Joseph Kony flees Southern Sudan into DR Congo - UN calls NGOs into Kony hunt
On October 3, 2005 the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrrest warrant for Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA. Ugandan LRA leaders have been named by the ICC as the world's most wanted men.
Today, UN Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) reports that Kony has fled his hideout in southern Sudan and crossed the White Nile heading to the DR Congo.
Associated Press report says Kony crossed into lawless northeastern Congo on Sunday afternoon - and may be heading to Central Africa - and that he passed through Congo's Garamba National Park.
Also today 6 Febuary 2006, All Africa says the UN Security Council is soliciting NGOs working in northern Uganda to help in the hunt for Kony.
Photo: Joseph Kony, leader of LRA. The US government sees LRA a terrorist group. Click on image for report on LRA attack on a civilian truck at Teretenye village near Ikotos in southern Sudan, an indication that the rebels want to destabilise the peace in southern Sudan. The LRA use child soldiers and have caused unbelievable misery for millions of people in Northern Uganda, DR Congo and Southern Sudan. Read 6 Feb 2006 Shocking Ordeal of Child Soldiers.
Note, the US government views the LRA as a terrorist organisation.
For information on the LRA glance through archived posts at Uganda Watch and Congo Watch, some listed here below.
Photo: Gulu victim. The LRA use torture to instil fear. Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has become synonymous with torture, abductions and killings. Click into image for further details. (BBC Sudan Watch archive)
Further reading:
July 31, 2005 Garang warns Kony
Sep 24, 2005 Ugandan LRA rebel chief 'in DR Congo'
Sep 24, 2005 Who are the LRA? Q&A: Uganda's northern rebellion
Oct 2, 2005 Uganda's LRA attempting to close road between Juba and Yei?
Oct 3, 2005 ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Joseph Kony
Oct 4, 2005 UN mission in DR Congo has said it intends to use all means necessary to drive out the LRA
Oct 4, 2005 UN airlifts Congo troops to deal with Uganda's LRA rebels
Oct 8, 2005 Uganda rebel leaders named by ICC as world's most wanted men
Jan 16, 2006 by David Blair: Joseph Kony: A monster at large
Jan 29, 2006 UN urged by Uganda to rout out LRA from Sudan, DRC
More on Joseph Kony's LRA in archives at Uganda Watch and Congo Watch (see sidebar here).
LRA murdered UN peacekeepers in E Congo
Photo: Workers in Uganda offload caskets holding bodies of eight Guatemalan UN peacekeepers murdered in East Congo by Vincent Otti's group on January 23, 2006. Otti is Kony's deputy.
Today, UN Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) reports that Kony has fled his hideout in southern Sudan and crossed the White Nile heading to the DR Congo.
Associated Press report says Kony crossed into lawless northeastern Congo on Sunday afternoon - and may be heading to Central Africa - and that he passed through Congo's Garamba National Park.
Also today 6 Febuary 2006, All Africa says the UN Security Council is soliciting NGOs working in northern Uganda to help in the hunt for Kony.
Photo: Joseph Kony, leader of LRA. The US government sees LRA a terrorist group. Click on image for report on LRA attack on a civilian truck at Teretenye village near Ikotos in southern Sudan, an indication that the rebels want to destabilise the peace in southern Sudan. The LRA use child soldiers and have caused unbelievable misery for millions of people in Northern Uganda, DR Congo and Southern Sudan. Read 6 Feb 2006 Shocking Ordeal of Child Soldiers.
Note, the US government views the LRA as a terrorist organisation.
For information on the LRA glance through archived posts at Uganda Watch and Congo Watch, some listed here below.
Photo: Gulu victim. The LRA use torture to instil fear. Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has become synonymous with torture, abductions and killings. Click into image for further details. (BBC Sudan Watch archive)
Further reading:
July 31, 2005 Garang warns Kony
Sep 24, 2005 Ugandan LRA rebel chief 'in DR Congo'
Sep 24, 2005 Who are the LRA? Q&A: Uganda's northern rebellion
Oct 2, 2005 Uganda's LRA attempting to close road between Juba and Yei?
Oct 3, 2005 ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Joseph Kony
Oct 4, 2005 UN mission in DR Congo has said it intends to use all means necessary to drive out the LRA
Oct 4, 2005 UN airlifts Congo troops to deal with Uganda's LRA rebels
Oct 8, 2005 Uganda rebel leaders named by ICC as world's most wanted men
Jan 16, 2006 by David Blair: Joseph Kony: A monster at large
Jan 29, 2006 UN urged by Uganda to rout out LRA from Sudan, DRC
More on Joseph Kony's LRA in archives at Uganda Watch and Congo Watch (see sidebar here).
LRA murdered UN peacekeepers in E Congo
Photo: Workers in Uganda offload caskets holding bodies of eight Guatemalan UN peacekeepers murdered in East Congo by Vincent Otti's group on January 23, 2006. Otti is Kony's deputy.
Daily Telegraph's Africa Correspondent David Blair witnesses and blogs the silent terror of Darfur's refugees
David Blair, Africa Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, has just returned from his third trip to Darfur. He is based in Johannesburg and first visited Darfur in August 2004. In his blog entry February 3, 2006 he says of Darfur:
David Blair (pictured above) in his report on Darfur in the Telegraph 6 February 2006, notes Darfur's nomadic Arab tribes are fighting over scarce water and pasture because the war restricts the area over which they can roam with their flocks.
Photo: Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, leader of a rival faction of Darfur rebel group SLA at Darfur peace talks in Abuja 4 February 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde/Yahoo)
What is more important to the Darfur rebels, oil or water? Fighting for a share in Sudan's wealth gets them uniforms, guns, satellite phones, jet setting lifestyles and shiny new Western style ties and suits.
Surely there is more to this war than meets the eye. Who is funding them? Why are rebel bases in Europe? After nearly two years of blogging Darfur, I still say we do not know half of what is really going on.
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Repeated violences cast doubts on Darfur peace talks - AU mediator
At the Darfur peace currently going on in Abuja, the AU and UN urged warring parties from Darfur to stop the conflict spreading into neighbouring Chad, which has 200,000 Darfur refugees on its territory.
Photo: Jan Pronk, top UN envoy in Sudan at Darfur peace talks in Abuja 4 February 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde/Yahoo)
Feb 6, 2006 Darfur rebels accuse Sudan of destabilising Chad with incursions - "Destabilization of Darfur means destabilization of Chad," said Izzedin Abdul, co-founder of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) office in Khartoum. "The next step is for the UN to send troops to Darfur. Otherwise people will die," he added. [Dafur rebels have always insisted on UN troops in Darfur]
"In practice, of course, the war will not end. In fact, it has recently intensified with the rebels fracturing along tribal lines and the pro-regime Janjaweed militia going on the march again. This bears all the hallmarks of a mess that will take decades to solve.Sudan Watch has same hunch, the war could go on for years. Too many bandits benefiting from fighting, none are gainfully employed. More will join in the fray, like bees to a honeypot while millions of defenceless Sudanese women and children continue to suffer.
Remember that round one of the civil war in Southern Sudan lasted for 17 years and round two lasted 21 years. I hope to be proven wrong, but unless things change drastically, my hunch is that Darfur's agony will be just as protracted."
David Blair (pictured above) in his report on Darfur in the Telegraph 6 February 2006, notes Darfur's nomadic Arab tribes are fighting over scarce water and pasture because the war restricts the area over which they can roam with their flocks.
Photo: Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, leader of a rival faction of Darfur rebel group SLA at Darfur peace talks in Abuja 4 February 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde/Yahoo)
What is more important to the Darfur rebels, oil or water? Fighting for a share in Sudan's wealth gets them uniforms, guns, satellite phones, jet setting lifestyles and shiny new Western style ties and suits.
Surely there is more to this war than meets the eye. Who is funding them? Why are rebel bases in Europe? After nearly two years of blogging Darfur, I still say we do not know half of what is really going on.
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Repeated violences cast doubts on Darfur peace talks - AU mediator
At the Darfur peace currently going on in Abuja, the AU and UN urged warring parties from Darfur to stop the conflict spreading into neighbouring Chad, which has 200,000 Darfur refugees on its territory.
Photo: Jan Pronk, top UN envoy in Sudan at Darfur peace talks in Abuja 4 February 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde/Yahoo)
Feb 6, 2006 Darfur rebels accuse Sudan of destabilising Chad with incursions - "Destabilization of Darfur means destabilization of Chad," said Izzedin Abdul, co-founder of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) office in Khartoum. "The next step is for the UN to send troops to Darfur. Otherwise people will die," he added. [Dafur rebels have always insisted on UN troops in Darfur]
US urges NATO to help in Darfur - Russia offers 200 peacekeepers and helicopter strike force as part of UN's Darfur mission
The Scotsman 6 February 2006 says the US yesterday urged NATO to play a bigger role in helping peacekeeping efforts in Darfur amid reports of daily cross-border raids by Janjaweed into neighbouring Chad. Excerpt:
Robert Zoellick, US deputy secretary of state, said NATO could offer more logistics, intelligence and planning assistance to the 7,000-strong African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur, including the deployment of a small number of experts on the ground.
Sergei Ivanov, Russia's defence minister, said his country was willing to send 200 peacekeepers and a helicopter strike force to Darfur as part of a UN mission, which could take a year to deploy.
AU troops rely on donor nations - UN troops with guaranteed budget would support AU troops already in Darfur
Reuters says Sudan softens resistance to UN peacekeepers in Darfur.
The report says Sudanese minister al-Samani al-Wasiylah voiced suspicions a UN force would do more than just monitor a ceasefire agreement and said a UN force would cost four to five times as much as the AU needed to continue its work. "If they can make this (cash) available why can they not make this available now for the African Union to continue?" he told reporters in Khartoum.
He said the fact the international community was willing to fund a UN rather than AU force raised questions of whether there were "other intentions" behind it. Sending a new mission to Darfur to try and understand the complex tribal divisions and factionalism among the rebel groups would also worsen the security situation, he added.
Note, the report explains that U.N. peacekeeping missions are paid for from the guaranteed budget of the world body whereas the AU relies on donor nations; UN sources have said any takeover would take the form of an integrated force with additional UN troops being sent to support those AU troops already on the ground.
Sudan has probably "softened" its resistance to these extra troops because it will probably take until next year to become a reality. Meanwhile, life goes on as usual. Tribes fighting and killing and getting away with murder. Savagery continues. Anarchy reins.
The report says Sudanese minister al-Samani al-Wasiylah voiced suspicions a UN force would do more than just monitor a ceasefire agreement and said a UN force would cost four to five times as much as the AU needed to continue its work. "If they can make this (cash) available why can they not make this available now for the African Union to continue?" he told reporters in Khartoum.
He said the fact the international community was willing to fund a UN rather than AU force raised questions of whether there were "other intentions" behind it. Sending a new mission to Darfur to try and understand the complex tribal divisions and factionalism among the rebel groups would also worsen the security situation, he added.
Note, the report explains that U.N. peacekeeping missions are paid for from the guaranteed budget of the world body whereas the AU relies on donor nations; UN sources have said any takeover would take the form of an integrated force with additional UN troops being sent to support those AU troops already on the ground.
Sudan has probably "softened" its resistance to these extra troops because it will probably take until next year to become a reality. Meanwhile, life goes on as usual. Tribes fighting and killing and getting away with murder. Savagery continues. Anarchy reins.
AU envoy warns of global scepticism over Darfur peace talks
German news report quotes the African Union's special envoy to the peace talks in Darfur on Sunday as saying the international community was growing increasingly sceptical about the peace process:
Photo: Salim Ahmed Salim
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Darfur: It's not about religion or race. It's about greed
Op-ed on Darfur by Jane Stillwater. Excerpt:
"The international community is drawing the conclusion that Darfur is lawless and the parties are not serious about making peace.
Even worse, there is an imagined perception in the world that neither the government nor the rebel groups sufficiently care for their people.
We must have an immediate cessation of hostilities".
Photo: Salim Ahmed Salim
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Darfur: It's not about religion or race. It's about greed
Op-ed on Darfur by Jane Stillwater. Excerpt:
Why is one faction butchering the other?
Greed. Resources. Land. To create chaos. Wherever there is chaos and lawlessness, those with the most guns win. So, race and religion have nothing to do with it apparently. It's all about who has the most weapons. And who can get into the country to acquire the resources of the ignorant, underdeveloped and poor.
It's the same old story -- governments that prey on their people. The powerful few get it all. ... It's a time-tested formula -- create chaos and then take over. Seize the resources. Buy off the army.
Libya to host mini-sumit on Sudan-Chad crisis
Libya to host mini-summit. This time it is about the on Sudan-Chad crisis. One day, Colonel Gaddafi's efforts might lead to a break through. Diplomats are sceptical but he has worked hard to help broker peace for Darfur and has been helpful in opening up new routes into Darfur for aid trucks and air routes for UN WFP to increase food flow to Darfur.
Further reading:
Oct 29, 2004 Summit in Tripoli closed with emphasis on getting aid to the refugees - Sudan hints at Darfur power share - JEM says Libya can play a very vital role
April 3, 2005 Libyan leader Gadhafi receives John Garang's delegation
May 11, 2005 Janjaweed still attacking inside Chad - Libya opens route for UN aid to Darfur
Sep 27, 2005 Darfur Sudan: Mini Mubarak and Gadhafi summit in Cairo
Sep 29, 2005 Chadian president in Libya to meet Gaddafi
Dec 30, 2005 African leaders to meet in Libya Jan 4 on Darfur
Jan 19, 2006 Libya proposes to deploy AU soldiers on Chad-Sudan border.
Further reading:
Oct 29, 2004 Summit in Tripoli closed with emphasis on getting aid to the refugees - Sudan hints at Darfur power share - JEM says Libya can play a very vital role
April 3, 2005 Libyan leader Gadhafi receives John Garang's delegation
May 11, 2005 Janjaweed still attacking inside Chad - Libya opens route for UN aid to Darfur
Sep 27, 2005 Darfur Sudan: Mini Mubarak and Gadhafi summit in Cairo
Sep 29, 2005 Chadian president in Libya to meet Gaddafi
Dec 30, 2005 African leaders to meet in Libya Jan 4 on Darfur
Jan 19, 2006 Libya proposes to deploy AU soldiers on Chad-Sudan border.
Jonglei, S Sudan: 7 killed in conflict over water and cattle
Today, Reuters says the UN claims there have been clashes between SSDF and SPLM but the SSDF denies involvement, claiming it was just tribal conflict over water and cattle. Full report.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
TEXT- Rebecca De Mabior Briefing in Washington on peace implementation
The late John Garang's wife, Madam Rebecca accompanied by Cdr. Pagan Amum and some delegation from GoSS government arrived to Washington DC on Tuesday 31 January, 2006.
Note TEXT of Rebecca De Mabior Briefing in Washington on peace implementation.
Note TEXT of Rebecca De Mabior Briefing in Washington on peace implementation.
Peacekeeping waterpumps - East Africa a front in war on terrorism
Here's an idea: everyone in the Sudan should hand in their guns in exchange for waterpumps. In return, everyone in the West, who wants to see peace in the Sudan, would happily donate to pay for the pumps, installation and upkeep. Think about it: waterpumps could be the peacekeepers that are needed to stop tribes fighting over water holes, grazing rights, livestock and the farming of arable land.
East Africa a front in war on terrorism
Today, 5 February 2006, the Seattle Times publishes a report authored by Shashank Bengali of Knight Ridder Newspapers.
The report, first published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, was featured here at Sudan Watch on 30 January 2006, thanks to Captain Marlow.
It is about waterpumps and the war on terrorism that most Americans (and the rest of us) haven't heard of. It is a must-read.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Adam Reed, from Sidon, Miss., Jan. 17 with Somali farmers in Sankabar, Ethiopia, to check on the water pumps the U.S. military helped install in their fields. (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN courtesy Knight Ridder Newspapers) via Seattle Times, where you can click into a larger image.
Further reading
Jan 26, 2006 In Darfur, handpumps are on the frontline of peacebuilding
Jan 26, 2006 The children of Sudan are its future - Save the Children
Jan 30. 2006: The war on terrorism that most Americans don't know about
East Africa a front in war on terrorism
Today, 5 February 2006, the Seattle Times publishes a report authored by Shashank Bengali of Knight Ridder Newspapers.
The report, first published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, was featured here at Sudan Watch on 30 January 2006, thanks to Captain Marlow.
It is about waterpumps and the war on terrorism that most Americans (and the rest of us) haven't heard of. It is a must-read.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Adam Reed, from Sidon, Miss., Jan. 17 with Somali farmers in Sankabar, Ethiopia, to check on the water pumps the U.S. military helped install in their fields. (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN courtesy Knight Ridder Newspapers) via Seattle Times, where you can click into a larger image.
Further reading
Jan 26, 2006 In Darfur, handpumps are on the frontline of peacebuilding
Jan 26, 2006 The children of Sudan are its future - Save the Children
Jan 30. 2006: The war on terrorism that most Americans don't know about
Janjaweed from Darfur 'targeting Chad' almost daily - HRW
Pro-government Janjaweed militiamen based in Darfur are carrying out almost daily cross-border raids on villages in neighbouring Chad, says Human Rights Watch.
HRW researchers said they had documented numerous attacks on villages just inside Chad by militias who had crossed over the border from Sudan. They said the militias killed civilians, burned villages and stole cattle.
Further excerpts from BBC report 5 February 2006:
HRW researchers said they had documented numerous attacks on villages just inside Chad by militias who had crossed over the border from Sudan. They said the militias killed civilians, burned villages and stole cattle.
Further excerpts from BBC report 5 February 2006:
The human rights agency's report found nearly half of the 85 villages in the Barotta region just inside Chad had been attacked and subsequently abandoned, with 16 villagers killed in a single month.
HRW said they were told by witnesses that those responsible were ethnic Arabs who wore Sudanese army clothing and spoke Sudanese Arabic.
Some attacks have also been carried out by Chadian rebels who operate from bases inside Darfur.
The report said most of the victims in Chad, as in Darfur, came from African ethnic groups and that the Arab civilians living in the same area were not harmed.
Human Rights Watch said tens of thousands of people in Chad had been internally displaced by the violence.
"Sudan's policy of arming militias and letting them loose is spilling over the border and civilians have no protection from their attacks, in Darfur or in Chad," said HRW's Africa director, Peter Takirambudde.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
UK offers Sudan gov't 7-Point "Plan for Peace" in Sudan
Today, Asharq Alawsat.com reports one of the points in the British proposal 'Seven Steps for Peace in Sudan' is the Sudanese Government's compliance with the clauses of the peace agreement - and others are: disarmament of the Janjaweed forces, building of personal relations with the rebels' leaders, and the willingness to deploy UN forces in the country without the Sudanese Government imposing any conditions on them.
See Sudan Watch Feb 3: UK sets list of priority actions on Darfur for new Sudanese Government of National Unity.
See Sudan Watch Feb 3: UK sets list of priority actions on Darfur for new Sudanese Government of National Unity.
UN urges Darfur enemies not to export conflict - Khartoum's exporting Janjaweed?
Many of the Sudanese rebels are convinced that Khartoum is backing Chadian rebels to oust Deby, despite the government's repeated denials.
Some delegates in Abuja accuse Khartoum of exporting the Janjaweed militias that have fought in Darfur into Chadian territory.
Some delegates in Abuja accuse Khartoum of exporting the Janjaweed militias that have fought in Darfur into Chadian territory.
Senegalese peacekeeper shot in east Chad -minister
A Senegalese soldier from the African Union peacekeeping mission for Darfur has been seriously injured in eastern Chad after being shot by a Chadian soldier, Chad's foreign minister said on Saturday.
South Darfur: Mershing's entire population of 55,000 fled to Menawashi after raids by Janjaweed
On Aug 31, 2004 Sudan Watch noted the UN's quiet diplomacy not working on Sudan - not one Janjaweed camp has been closed.
Here we are in February 2006, still filing reports of Janjaweed attacks affecting tens of thousands of Darfuris, mostly defenceless women and children.
Yesterday, exhausted internally displaced Darfuris were building ramshackle shelters in a dry river bed after 55,000 fled a raid mounted by Janjaweed gunmen reports David Blair, Telegraph correspondent in Menawashi, South Darfur 4 Feb 2006. Excerpts:
The flight took place as President Omar al-Bashir was assuring 53 African leaders gathered for a summit in Khartoum of his desire for peace in Darfur.
Evidence suggests that Sudan's security forces colluded with the Arab raiders.
The first assault took place around noon. Abdul Majid Hassan, 28, was herding cattle with his brother, Tibin, 30, when five Arab gunmen approached on horseback.
Photo: The Janjaweed
"They said, 'Give us your cattle,' " Mr Hassan said. "I told Tibin, 'Give them our cattle to save our lives.' But my brother refused. The Janjaweed raised their guns and I ran."
As he fled, Mr Hassan heard a burst of automatic gunfire. He turned to see that his brother had been shot.
"I went back and found him lying on the ground. There was a bullet in his back. He said, 'I know I am dying. I ask one thing, please take care of my family.' "
Photo: Arab militiamen, known as Janjaweed, said to be responsible for much of the ethnic cleansing and herd raiding in Darfur, check on their cattle. (Photo by Ron Haviv/Courtesy UNICEF. Sudan Watch archive 3 Oct 2005)
About 400 Janjaweed gunmen raided a refugee camp in Mershing, riding among the shelters, beating up or firing on anyone who crossed their path. They returned about eight hours later, attacking the town and looting the market.
Mershing's entire population of 55,000 fled the next morning to Menawashi, 10 miles away. Panic-stricken refugees stampeded, trampling to death about 13 infants. Another 220 children disappeared during the flight.
The surviving members of Tibin Hassan's family had been forced to flee once before when the Janjaweed destroyed their home village in 2004.
Keltoum Adam Ibrahim, 25, was also fleeing with her five terrified children for the second time. "I went to Mershing because I thought the government is there, the police are there, they will protect us," she said. "Now I don't trust them. I saw the police sitting and eating with the Janjaweed before they attacked us."
All the refugees in Menawashi are black Africans, and the Arab-dominated regime views them with deep suspicion.
Evidence suggests that the Janjaweed were unleashed to clear the black Africans from a strategically vital road. Paramilitary police were seen talking to Arab gunmen.
Further reading:
Jan 26, 2005 Terrible things are happening today in Darfur - renewed fighting last week uprooted more than 9,000. 8,000 fled to nearby Menawashi and 1,250 to Mershing, both in South Darfur state.
May 3, 2005 ABC's Interview with Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal in Sudan
May 8, 2005 Janjaweed leader preaches peace in Darfur - Some Darfur tribes agree local settlement
Photo: Musa Hilal - Arab tribal leader and 'leader' of the Janjaweed
Jan 24, 2006 Sudan's SLA rebels launch attack in Golo, West Darfur
Jan 25, 2006 Splintering of rebel groups? Nur's forces captured aid workers? UN helicopter crashes near Golo, West Darfur
Feb 1, 2006: South Darfur: Janjaweed attack IDP camps Kele, Silo, Tege, Um Gozein, Ton Kittir - Mass exodus from Mershing - Joint Sudan/AU forces to patrol?
Feb 1, 2006 Southern Sudan's SPLM/A and SSDF provoke attacks on Yuai, Central Upper Nile
Feb 1, 2006 6,100,000 IDPs in the Sudan - 770,000 fled elsewhere
Feb 2, 2006 AU says no evidence Sudan backing Chadian rebels
Feb 3, 2006 New Janjaweed attacks force more Darfuris into Chad camps
Feb 3, 2006: AU says SLA attacks in Shearia and Golo provoked Sudanese forces and prompted reprisal attacks by Janjaweed
Photo: Chad's camel guards patrol on the Sudan-Chad border in Abulu Kore (Darfur), Eastern Chad, in 2004. (AFP/Thomas Coex/Yahoo - Sudan Watch archive 28 Sep 2005)
Here we are in February 2006, still filing reports of Janjaweed attacks affecting tens of thousands of Darfuris, mostly defenceless women and children.
Yesterday, exhausted internally displaced Darfuris were building ramshackle shelters in a dry river bed after 55,000 fled a raid mounted by Janjaweed gunmen reports David Blair, Telegraph correspondent in Menawashi, South Darfur 4 Feb 2006. Excerpts:
The flight took place as President Omar al-Bashir was assuring 53 African leaders gathered for a summit in Khartoum of his desire for peace in Darfur.
Evidence suggests that Sudan's security forces colluded with the Arab raiders.
The first assault took place around noon. Abdul Majid Hassan, 28, was herding cattle with his brother, Tibin, 30, when five Arab gunmen approached on horseback.
Photo: The Janjaweed
"They said, 'Give us your cattle,' " Mr Hassan said. "I told Tibin, 'Give them our cattle to save our lives.' But my brother refused. The Janjaweed raised their guns and I ran."
As he fled, Mr Hassan heard a burst of automatic gunfire. He turned to see that his brother had been shot.
"I went back and found him lying on the ground. There was a bullet in his back. He said, 'I know I am dying. I ask one thing, please take care of my family.' "
Photo: Arab militiamen, known as Janjaweed, said to be responsible for much of the ethnic cleansing and herd raiding in Darfur, check on their cattle. (Photo by Ron Haviv/Courtesy UNICEF. Sudan Watch archive 3 Oct 2005)
About 400 Janjaweed gunmen raided a refugee camp in Mershing, riding among the shelters, beating up or firing on anyone who crossed their path. They returned about eight hours later, attacking the town and looting the market.
Mershing's entire population of 55,000 fled the next morning to Menawashi, 10 miles away. Panic-stricken refugees stampeded, trampling to death about 13 infants. Another 220 children disappeared during the flight.
The surviving members of Tibin Hassan's family had been forced to flee once before when the Janjaweed destroyed their home village in 2004.
Keltoum Adam Ibrahim, 25, was also fleeing with her five terrified children for the second time. "I went to Mershing because I thought the government is there, the police are there, they will protect us," she said. "Now I don't trust them. I saw the police sitting and eating with the Janjaweed before they attacked us."
All the refugees in Menawashi are black Africans, and the Arab-dominated regime views them with deep suspicion.
Evidence suggests that the Janjaweed were unleashed to clear the black Africans from a strategically vital road. Paramilitary police were seen talking to Arab gunmen.
Further reading:
Jan 26, 2005 Terrible things are happening today in Darfur - renewed fighting last week uprooted more than 9,000. 8,000 fled to nearby Menawashi and 1,250 to Mershing, both in South Darfur state.
May 3, 2005 ABC's Interview with Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal in Sudan
May 8, 2005 Janjaweed leader preaches peace in Darfur - Some Darfur tribes agree local settlement
Photo: Musa Hilal - Arab tribal leader and 'leader' of the Janjaweed
Jan 24, 2006 Sudan's SLA rebels launch attack in Golo, West Darfur
Jan 25, 2006 Splintering of rebel groups? Nur's forces captured aid workers? UN helicopter crashes near Golo, West Darfur
Feb 1, 2006: South Darfur: Janjaweed attack IDP camps Kele, Silo, Tege, Um Gozein, Ton Kittir - Mass exodus from Mershing - Joint Sudan/AU forces to patrol?
Feb 1, 2006 Southern Sudan's SPLM/A and SSDF provoke attacks on Yuai, Central Upper Nile
Feb 1, 2006 6,100,000 IDPs in the Sudan - 770,000 fled elsewhere
Feb 2, 2006 AU says no evidence Sudan backing Chadian rebels
Feb 3, 2006 New Janjaweed attacks force more Darfuris into Chad camps
Feb 3, 2006: AU says SLA attacks in Shearia and Golo provoked Sudanese forces and prompted reprisal attacks by Janjaweed
Photo: Chad's camel guards patrol on the Sudan-Chad border in Abulu Kore (Darfur), Eastern Chad, in 2004. (AFP/Thomas Coex/Yahoo - Sudan Watch archive 28 Sep 2005)
Muslim anger spreads round the world - and it is not about Muslims and children perishing in Darfur, Sudan
The Financial Times today says Muslim anger is spreading round the world.
Hey, guess what, they are not outraged at fellow Muslims and children perishing and suffering atrocities in Darfur - they are angry over some cartoons!
As Margaret Thatcher once said, "It's a funny old world".
Today, the BBC says Annan urges calm in cartoon row - the Danish paper's editor told the BBC his intention was to show Muslims they were not exempt from satire.
More on this Muslim outrage at Captain Marlow's in Europe where Marlow links to a post encouraging us to buy Danish as "Muslim countries have chosen to pressure liberal little Denmark in order to teach the media and governments, which stand by them, a lesson which does not bode well for free speech or satire."
UK journalist Melanie Phillips, in Cartoon jihad, says "It is worth reminding ourselves at this juncture what the issue was about from the start of the affair. Gratuitous offensiveness towards Islam or any other religion is not to be approved of. But not only is censorship of such offensiveness another matter, and violence and intimidation arising from it another matter still, this was not in any event gratuitous offence."
Feb 3 ComingAnarchy post authored by Chirol, an American studying in Germany, says We Are All Danes Now and notes that, "The Tension has some rather disturbing images of Muslim protesters with signs reading "Europe learn from 9/11," "Massacre those who insult Islam" and more. You have to see it to believe it. The longer this goes on, the more pessimistic I become about the Middle East's ability to fix its failing culture."
Thomas at Contango in Norway writes An elaboration and some questions saying it is likely the row will continue to escalate, possibly with violent acts to follow and, "Let there be no doubt that the paper obviously is in its right to publish these drawings. There cannot be limits to freedom of speech."
Marcus at UK blog Harry's Place writes Two Minute Hate saying "this Danish cartoon business is rapidly turning into mainland Europe's version of the Satanic Verses affair - the wave of protest was triggered by Sheikh Yussef al-Qaradawi, head of the International Association of Muslim Scholars, who last night called on Muslims all over the world to observe "an international day of anger for God and his prophet"."
UK journalist Stephen Pollard says Danish humour may be no laughing matter, but it must be defended - "They [the cartoons] are certainly offensive to a large number of Muslims, as this week's turmoil shows. But so what? Rather more offensive, one might think, than some mocking cartoons is some Muslims' desire to murder me as a Jew."
And, he goes on to say, "Europe is not part of the Caliphate, whatever some Muslims wish. One of the defining qualities of Western civilisation is that, while religions of all kinds are tolerated, their beliefs and practices must be subject to secular laws. The idea that any religion should be above those laws is anathema to Western civilisation."
This blog author agrees with Stephen when he says Denmark's reputation has not been tarnished but enhanced and that all the Danes can and should do now is carry on standing up for the basic Western value of free speech, and hope that other nations do the same.
Helmut, a professor of philosophy, public policy, and international affairs, who blogs out of Washington DC at Phronesisaical, says it's a cartoon world and he is letting the irony of the photos do the talking for him. Heh.
Through The Looking Glass: The Danish Cartoons - Does one have the right to make fun of religion? Where is the line between freedom of speech and censorship? And what are the appropriate responses? asks Sheila Musaji, February 4, 2006 at almuslim.com.
Photo: A child joins demonstrators in Belgrave Square, London. via Telegraph UK 5 Feb 2006: Muslim protests are incitement to murder, say Tories [via Captain Marlow]
Feb 4, 2006: English Lord of the blog says Cartoons should not have been published because present situation is too volatile - it is time for us here in Britain to say we are proud of our multi cultural society and our history of a free and fair society and we are going to keep it that way.
Feb 4, 2006 Normblog Prophet and loss: "The front page of the Guardian today reports a remark from the foreign secretary that would be worrying if he'd said it: "Jack Straw... denounced the decision to republish the cartoons, saying press freedom carried an obligation not "to be gratuitously inflammatory"." But this seems to be the result of sloppy editing. What Straw acually said, according to the report here, was: "There is freedom of speech, we all respect that, but there is not any obligation to insult or to be gratuitously inflammatory."
Feb 6, 2006 American Atheists at NoGodBlog received 70 comments at Apology withdrawn: "I earlier said "sorry for the cartoon", referring to the Moslem ordeal (there are sooo many), but I then read this article, and I'm retracting that sentiment. Nobody who demands the death of a human just because of what he writes, says, or believes is deserving of any respect at all.
See "Freedom go to hell" and "Europe take some lessons from 9/11" photos at The Artyom Reader.
See more photos just in from London at Michelle Malkin's: "Be prepared for the REAL holocaust!" "Europe you will pay. Your 9/11 is on its way!!" "Behead those who insult Islam" "Slay those who insult Islam" "Butcher those who mock Islam" "Exterminate those who slander Islam" "Massacre those who insult Islam" "Annihilate those who insult Islam" (Hat tip: UK blogger John Holroyd of Towards a Free World Cartoon Debate - The case for mocking religion "We cannot possibly adjust enough to please the fanatics, and it is degrading to make the attempt.")
The Common Room blog has a round up news and views of Islam in the Cartoons.
Hey, guess what, they are not outraged at fellow Muslims and children perishing and suffering atrocities in Darfur - they are angry over some cartoons!
As Margaret Thatcher once said, "It's a funny old world".
Today, the BBC says Annan urges calm in cartoon row - the Danish paper's editor told the BBC his intention was to show Muslims they were not exempt from satire.
More on this Muslim outrage at Captain Marlow's in Europe where Marlow links to a post encouraging us to buy Danish as "Muslim countries have chosen to pressure liberal little Denmark in order to teach the media and governments, which stand by them, a lesson which does not bode well for free speech or satire."
UK journalist Melanie Phillips, in Cartoon jihad, says "It is worth reminding ourselves at this juncture what the issue was about from the start of the affair. Gratuitous offensiveness towards Islam or any other religion is not to be approved of. But not only is censorship of such offensiveness another matter, and violence and intimidation arising from it another matter still, this was not in any event gratuitous offence."
Feb 3 ComingAnarchy post authored by Chirol, an American studying in Germany, says We Are All Danes Now and notes that, "The Tension has some rather disturbing images of Muslim protesters with signs reading "Europe learn from 9/11," "Massacre those who insult Islam" and more. You have to see it to believe it. The longer this goes on, the more pessimistic I become about the Middle East's ability to fix its failing culture."
Thomas at Contango in Norway writes An elaboration and some questions saying it is likely the row will continue to escalate, possibly with violent acts to follow and, "Let there be no doubt that the paper obviously is in its right to publish these drawings. There cannot be limits to freedom of speech."
Marcus at UK blog Harry's Place writes Two Minute Hate saying "this Danish cartoon business is rapidly turning into mainland Europe's version of the Satanic Verses affair - the wave of protest was triggered by Sheikh Yussef al-Qaradawi, head of the International Association of Muslim Scholars, who last night called on Muslims all over the world to observe "an international day of anger for God and his prophet"."
UK journalist Stephen Pollard says Danish humour may be no laughing matter, but it must be defended - "They [the cartoons] are certainly offensive to a large number of Muslims, as this week's turmoil shows. But so what? Rather more offensive, one might think, than some mocking cartoons is some Muslims' desire to murder me as a Jew."
And, he goes on to say, "Europe is not part of the Caliphate, whatever some Muslims wish. One of the defining qualities of Western civilisation is that, while religions of all kinds are tolerated, their beliefs and practices must be subject to secular laws. The idea that any religion should be above those laws is anathema to Western civilisation."
This blog author agrees with Stephen when he says Denmark's reputation has not been tarnished but enhanced and that all the Danes can and should do now is carry on standing up for the basic Western value of free speech, and hope that other nations do the same.
Helmut, a professor of philosophy, public policy, and international affairs, who blogs out of Washington DC at Phronesisaical, says it's a cartoon world and he is letting the irony of the photos do the talking for him. Heh.
Through The Looking Glass: The Danish Cartoons - Does one have the right to make fun of religion? Where is the line between freedom of speech and censorship? And what are the appropriate responses? asks Sheila Musaji, February 4, 2006 at almuslim.com.
Photo: A child joins demonstrators in Belgrave Square, London. via Telegraph UK 5 Feb 2006: Muslim protests are incitement to murder, say Tories [via Captain Marlow]
Feb 4, 2006: English Lord of the blog says Cartoons should not have been published because present situation is too volatile - it is time for us here in Britain to say we are proud of our multi cultural society and our history of a free and fair society and we are going to keep it that way.
Feb 4, 2006 Normblog Prophet and loss: "The front page of the Guardian today reports a remark from the foreign secretary that would be worrying if he'd said it: "Jack Straw... denounced the decision to republish the cartoons, saying press freedom carried an obligation not "to be gratuitously inflammatory"." But this seems to be the result of sloppy editing. What Straw acually said, according to the report here, was: "There is freedom of speech, we all respect that, but there is not any obligation to insult or to be gratuitously inflammatory."
Feb 6, 2006 American Atheists at NoGodBlog received 70 comments at Apology withdrawn: "I earlier said "sorry for the cartoon", referring to the Moslem ordeal (there are sooo many), but I then read this article, and I'm retracting that sentiment. Nobody who demands the death of a human just because of what he writes, says, or believes is deserving of any respect at all.
See "Freedom go to hell" and "Europe take some lessons from 9/11" photos at The Artyom Reader.
See more photos just in from London at Michelle Malkin's: "Be prepared for the REAL holocaust!" "Europe you will pay. Your 9/11 is on its way!!" "Behead those who insult Islam" "Slay those who insult Islam" "Butcher those who mock Islam" "Exterminate those who slander Islam" "Massacre those who insult Islam" "Annihilate those who insult Islam" (Hat tip: UK blogger John Holroyd of Towards a Free World Cartoon Debate - The case for mocking religion "We cannot possibly adjust enough to please the fanatics, and it is degrading to make the attempt.")
The Common Room blog has a round up news and views of Islam in the Cartoons.
Friday, February 03, 2006
AU says SLA attacks in Shearia and Golo provoked Sudanese forces and prompted reprisal attacks by Janjaweed
The African Union says Janjaweed still continue to burn, kill and rape on an ever escalating scale in Darfur. Note this excerpt:
Photo: Baba Gana Kingibe, head of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Courtesy IRIN.
Note, excerpt from Eric Reeves' latest analysis 4 Feb 2006:
"This replicates the basic pattern of genocidal behavior that has been in evidence for almost three years: rather than attack the rebel forces directly, Khartoum and its Janjaweed proxies have attacked defenseless civilians. By destroying what it deems the civilian base of support for the insurgency movement -- children, women, and men defined simply in terms of their ethnicity -- Khartoum hopes to crush the will and ability of the rebels."
Further reading:
Oct 3, 2005 Sudan admits using helicopter gunships in attack on Shearia South Darfur.
Baba Gana Kingibe, head of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) noted that Sudanese government troops had showed restraint, even in situations where they were clearly provoked, citing recent attacks by the SLA in Shearia, South Darfur on 16 January and Golo West Darfur on 23 January, 2006.
Both attacks in the mountainous Jebel Marra region in central Darfur resulted in high casualties and further displacement of people, he said, and prompted reprisal attacks by the Janjawid militia.
"These reprisal attacks, in fact, took further toll of human life, most of whom were innocent, unarmed villagers," he added.
Photo: Baba Gana Kingibe, head of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Courtesy IRIN.
Note, excerpt from Eric Reeves' latest analysis 4 Feb 2006:
"This replicates the basic pattern of genocidal behavior that has been in evidence for almost three years: rather than attack the rebel forces directly, Khartoum and its Janjaweed proxies have attacked defenseless civilians. By destroying what it deems the civilian base of support for the insurgency movement -- children, women, and men defined simply in terms of their ethnicity -- Khartoum hopes to crush the will and ability of the rebels."
Further reading:
Oct 3, 2005 Sudan admits using helicopter gunships in attack on Shearia South Darfur.
New Janjaweed attacks force more Darfuris into Chad camps
Gaga camp in eastern Chad has received some 1,000 new refugees since the start of the year, says camp manager Milaiti Ruben of the aid agency Africare. And he expects no let-up. "The stream will continue because insecurity reigns along the border," he told IRIN. "And the simplest way for people to protect themselves is to flee."
Gaga is the newest of 12 refugee camps scattered up and down eastern Chad, and for the moment space is not a problem. "We're at about 7,000 people now," said Ruben. "But we have the capacity to house 30,000."
Raids and attacks along the Sudan-Chad border are not only creating new cases for the clinic, but they are also hampering the assistance aid workers can offer.
"Before, we used to send the severe cases of malnutrition to the hospital in Adre, but the insecurity has made it impossible to take them there now," Degoto explained, as hungry infants mewled in the background.
"At the camp we monitor them every hour, but when we leave for the night they're on their own until the morning."
Photo: Sudanese refugees wait to be registered at Gaga camp in eastern Chad. For many of the new arrivals, it is the second or third time they have been forced to flee. There are others who sought shelter in villages just inside Chad but soon found that the Kalashnikov-wielding Sudanese militia paid no heed to international boundaries, staging raids across the border on horses and camels. (Courtesy IRIN)
Photo: Ask Kaltouma Yaya Ato why three years into the Darfur conflict, she has only just decided to seek refuge in Chad, and the 80-year old says not a word. She simply rolls up the folds of her skirt to reveal traces of the Janjawid. Her left leg has swollen to twice its normal size - the result of a beating the Arab militiamen inflicted on the frail old woman using wooden clubs. Her crime? To be out looking for firewood at the wrong time. Her punishment? One month later, she cannot even stand, let alone walk. "They show no pity to anyone," she whispered. (Courtesy Claire Soares/IRIN)
Gaga is the newest of 12 refugee camps scattered up and down eastern Chad, and for the moment space is not a problem. "We're at about 7,000 people now," said Ruben. "But we have the capacity to house 30,000."
Raids and attacks along the Sudan-Chad border are not only creating new cases for the clinic, but they are also hampering the assistance aid workers can offer.
"Before, we used to send the severe cases of malnutrition to the hospital in Adre, but the insecurity has made it impossible to take them there now," Degoto explained, as hungry infants mewled in the background.
"At the camp we monitor them every hour, but when we leave for the night they're on their own until the morning."
Photo: Sudanese refugees wait to be registered at Gaga camp in eastern Chad. For many of the new arrivals, it is the second or third time they have been forced to flee. There are others who sought shelter in villages just inside Chad but soon found that the Kalashnikov-wielding Sudanese militia paid no heed to international boundaries, staging raids across the border on horses and camels. (Courtesy IRIN)
Photo: Ask Kaltouma Yaya Ato why three years into the Darfur conflict, she has only just decided to seek refuge in Chad, and the 80-year old says not a word. She simply rolls up the folds of her skirt to reveal traces of the Janjawid. Her left leg has swollen to twice its normal size - the result of a beating the Arab militiamen inflicted on the frail old woman using wooden clubs. Her crime? To be out looking for firewood at the wrong time. Her punishment? One month later, she cannot even stand, let alone walk. "They show no pity to anyone," she whispered. (Courtesy Claire Soares/IRIN)
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