Today, SLM rebels in Darfur charged Khartoum of systematically obstructing "any attempts to discover and understand what is actually happening on the ground in Darfur."
"The regime will do whatever it can to prevent people from making reports that could strengthen the case for sending UN troops in Darfur," said SLM spokesman Mahjub Hussein.
"An increased number of government troops and Janjaweed are now massed in the Geneina region as part of Sudan's efforts to bring down the regime of Chadian President Idriss Deby," he added. Full report AFP/ST 4 Apr 2006.
Mar 31 2006 Mercenaries from Sudan attacked Chadian town of Modeina - dozens killed, 4,000 civilians displaced
Mar 31 2006 Sudanese Janjaweed slay Chad Army General Abakar Youssouf Mahamat
Apr 2 2006 Mohamat Nour's Chadian rebel United Front for Change (FUC) aims to depose Chadian president Deby
Apr 3 2006 Chad's ACTUS on French intervention to rescue Deby regime
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Hundreds of thousands Sudanese children go to school for first time thanks to UN aid
Hundreds of thousands of children will go to school for the first time in Southern Sudan this year in a massive United Nations-backed campaign.
Education is the key to future peace and prosperity in the region. About 8,600 teachers, the majority untrained volunteers, cover approximately 2,000 schools. The campaign aims to deliver over 3.8 million textbooks and teachers' guides and basic school supplies for up to 1.6 million children. From 6 million exercise books to 1.6 million pencil sharpeners, no child should go without the basics.
Over 1,500 new classrooms are being constructed and accelerated training is underway for teachers and classroom facilitators. The effort is led by the Government of Southern Sudan with the support of UN agencies, donors, non-governmental organizations and communities. Some $22 million has been received so far, with a similar amount still required to complete the targets for 2006. Full story UN News Service 3 April 2006.
Education is the key to future peace and prosperity in the region. About 8,600 teachers, the majority untrained volunteers, cover approximately 2,000 schools. The campaign aims to deliver over 3.8 million textbooks and teachers' guides and basic school supplies for up to 1.6 million children. From 6 million exercise books to 1.6 million pencil sharpeners, no child should go without the basics.
Over 1,500 new classrooms are being constructed and accelerated training is underway for teachers and classroom facilitators. The effort is led by the Government of Southern Sudan with the support of UN agencies, donors, non-governmental organizations and communities. Some $22 million has been received so far, with a similar amount still required to complete the targets for 2006. Full story UN News Service 3 April 2006.
Finland to give 4.4 million euros in aid for Sudan
In Sudan, the number of internal refugees, at 6.5 million people, is the highest in the world. Finland pledges 4.4 million euros in aid for Sudan, the sum to be channelled, among others, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Finnchurch Aid. Full story ReliefWeb 4 Apr 2006.
Medecins du Monde-Greece begins health clinics in North Kutum area, North Darfur
Medecins du Monde - Greece has started operating health clinics in three locations across North Kutum, one of the most neglected and devastated areas of North Darfur, whose inhabitants suffer from long-term water shortages and insecurity.
More than 75,000 people, among them most-vulnerable groups like Internally Displaced People and members of nomadic tribes now enjoy basic health services, vaccination campaigns against childhood and seasonal diseases. Full story Reuters 4 Apr 2006.
More than 75,000 people, among them most-vulnerable groups like Internally Displaced People and members of nomadic tribes now enjoy basic health services, vaccination campaigns against childhood and seasonal diseases. Full story Reuters 4 Apr 2006.
Germany donates millions towards peace talks
The German government made a $500 000 contribution to the Darfur peace talks, the third Berlin has made and contributed close to $4-million towards the operational cost of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS),
"Germany is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and has tried to lower the human suffering on the ground by donating almost 25 million dollars for projects on food security, potable water, basic health services and in support and reintegration of refugees," a statement said. Full story Sapa-dpa 4 April 2006.
"Germany is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and has tried to lower the human suffering on the ground by donating almost 25 million dollars for projects on food security, potable water, basic health services and in support and reintegration of refugees," a statement said. Full story Sapa-dpa 4 April 2006.
Egypt's President Mubarak arrives in Khartoum on short visit
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived in Khartoum Tuesday on an unnanounced short visit to Sudan,. His meeting with Sudanese President al-Bashir lasted three hours UPI reported.
Monday, April 03, 2006
NATO plans to increase support for AU force in Darfur
NATO's chief diplomat said Monday that the alliance planned to increase support for African peacekeepers in Darfur, but he again stressed that the deployment of NATO troops was not an option, AP report 4 April 2006 - excerpt:
Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO was considering increasing training, planning and transportation support for the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, and a U.N. mission that may replace it in September.
"That can very much be done without speaking of a NATO force," he said. "It's the African Union, it's the U.N. which are the guiding organizations."
Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO was considering increasing training, planning and transportation support for the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, and a U.N. mission that may replace it in September.
"That can very much be done without speaking of a NATO force," he said. "It's the African Union, it's the U.N. which are the guiding organizations."
Sudanese President al-Bashir now supports human rights?
President Omar al-Bashir said in a speech to parliament Monday that resolving the Darfur conflict was his nation's top priority.
"The peace that we have received with joy (in southern Sudan) remains incomplete until we achieve a solution in Darfur," he said.
He said the government would work to end the suffering of civilians and reach a political settlement that included all parties involved in the conflict.
"There cannot be a solution that ignores the rights of anyone or suppresses anyone. A permanent solution is the one that embraces all and resolves all the problems of Darfur," he said.
Full report (AP/Yahoo) 4 April 2006.
"The peace that we have received with joy (in southern Sudan) remains incomplete until we achieve a solution in Darfur," he said.
He said the government would work to end the suffering of civilians and reach a political settlement that included all parties involved in the conflict.
"There cannot be a solution that ignores the rights of anyone or suppresses anyone. A permanent solution is the one that embraces all and resolves all the problems of Darfur," he said.
Full report (AP/Yahoo) 4 April 2006.
Chinese peacekeepers leave for South Sudan mission
When John Garang was alive, I posted news reports here at Sudan Watch on how he was against having Chinese troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan because they were too onside with Khartoum over oil.
Note a 25-member squad of a Chinese detachment that is part of a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan left Beijing Monday, heading for Khartoum, China's Xinhua reported 4 April 2006:
Note a 25-member squad of a Chinese detachment that is part of a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan left Beijing Monday, heading for Khartoum, China's Xinhua reported 4 April 2006:
China plans to send 435 peace-keepers in response to an appeal by the UN Security Council. They will be mainly responsible for rebuilding infrastructure facilities, destroying weapons, and assisting all peace-keeping forces in the area. The Chinese detachment comes from the Jinan Area Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.Apr 3 2006 (Xinhua/ST) China, Sudan to boost exchanges between armed forces
On March 24, 2005, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to send peacekeepers to South Sudan, to help accomplish a North-South peace agreement in the country.
What's going on in Janana, S Darfur? 60 villages attacked by Janjaweed while Khartoum "safeguards" Norwegians from being in Sudan for next 2 weeks?
What is going on in South Darfur between the SLA and Janjaweed in Janana? Whenever a strange story hits the news on Darfur, like today when the headlines are filled with reports of UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland being refused access to Darfur, even though he has the necessary visa says the UN, I start looking for clues of a major Janjaweed attack in Darfur. Usually, a few days or even weeks later, news emerges of a huge attack that took place around the time of a strange story hitting the headlines.
Today's strange story is that Sudanese authorities have refused to extend the mandate of the Norwegian NGO Norwegian Refugee Council which heads the main refugee camp in Darfur, sheltering some 100,000 people, the organisation announced on Monday. NRC is one of Norway's largest NGOs, with 1,300 people working for refugees and displaced persons.
Also, Jan Egeland has been asked by the Sudanese government to delay his visit to Darfur because it coincided with a Muslim holiday says the BBC. Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Jamal Ibrahim said that in the light of the Danish cartoons row, it would not be sensitive or safe for a Norwegian such as Mr Egeland to visit.
AFP report says the Sudanese government denied barring Jan Egeland from Darfur, but instead asked his visit be delayed because of "popular sentiment". "Egeland was not barred from visiting Darfur but was only asked to postpone the visit due to the growing popular sentiment against the UN for its plans of deploying foreign forces in Darfur," information ministry official Bekri Mulah told AFP by telephone.
Mr Egeland's Darfur trip was in doubt on Monday as government officials refused to allow him to visit the rebel-held town of Gereida reported Reuters today. AFP says Egeland was scheduled to travel to either Nyala or El Geneina in Darfur on Monday before proceeding to the capital for talks with officials there.
AP report explains a statement from the UNMIS said Egeland's flight into Sudan was not given authorization to land Sunday and that Sudanese officials had expressed opposition to his visit. It quoted Sudan's representative to the UN in New York as saying Egeland would not be welcome in Darfur or the capital, Khartoum. Egeland's spokeswoman, Stephanie Bunker, said Sudan told him it could not guarantee his security and said he should delay his visit for up to two weeks.
Here's the clue I was looking for: Jan Egeland told the BBC today the SLA helped provoke latest Janjaweed attacks in Janana. He said the Sudanese government, guerrilla forces and ethnic militia groups were all responsible for the current instability in Darfur. Angola Press picks up on the BBC report quoting Mr Egeland as saying thousands of people had fled after 60 villages were attacked by pro-government Janjaweed militias. Egeland told the BBC he thought the Sudanese government did not want him to see the latest wave of "ethnic cleansing" against black Africans in South Darfur.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Sudan says Mr Egeland is known for his willingness to speak his mind and has been a strong critic of the government's role in Darfur's violence.
Today's strange story is that Sudanese authorities have refused to extend the mandate of the Norwegian NGO Norwegian Refugee Council which heads the main refugee camp in Darfur, sheltering some 100,000 people, the organisation announced on Monday. NRC is one of Norway's largest NGOs, with 1,300 people working for refugees and displaced persons.
Also, Jan Egeland has been asked by the Sudanese government to delay his visit to Darfur because it coincided with a Muslim holiday says the BBC. Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Jamal Ibrahim said that in the light of the Danish cartoons row, it would not be sensitive or safe for a Norwegian such as Mr Egeland to visit.
AFP report says the Sudanese government denied barring Jan Egeland from Darfur, but instead asked his visit be delayed because of "popular sentiment". "Egeland was not barred from visiting Darfur but was only asked to postpone the visit due to the growing popular sentiment against the UN for its plans of deploying foreign forces in Darfur," information ministry official Bekri Mulah told AFP by telephone.
Mr Egeland's Darfur trip was in doubt on Monday as government officials refused to allow him to visit the rebel-held town of Gereida reported Reuters today. AFP says Egeland was scheduled to travel to either Nyala or El Geneina in Darfur on Monday before proceeding to the capital for talks with officials there.
AP report explains a statement from the UNMIS said Egeland's flight into Sudan was not given authorization to land Sunday and that Sudanese officials had expressed opposition to his visit. It quoted Sudan's representative to the UN in New York as saying Egeland would not be welcome in Darfur or the capital, Khartoum. Egeland's spokeswoman, Stephanie Bunker, said Sudan told him it could not guarantee his security and said he should delay his visit for up to two weeks.
Here's the clue I was looking for: Jan Egeland told the BBC today the SLA helped provoke latest Janjaweed attacks in Janana. He said the Sudanese government, guerrilla forces and ethnic militia groups were all responsible for the current instability in Darfur. Angola Press picks up on the BBC report quoting Mr Egeland as saying thousands of people had fled after 60 villages were attacked by pro-government Janjaweed militias. Egeland told the BBC he thought the Sudanese government did not want him to see the latest wave of "ethnic cleansing" against black Africans in South Darfur.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Sudan says Mr Egeland is known for his willingness to speak his mind and has been a strong critic of the government's role in Darfur's violence.
Chad's ACTUS on French intervention to rescue Deby regime
The Action of the Chad for the Unity and Socialism (ACTUS) says it condemns the intervention of the French Army beside governmental forces to fight the forces of the opposition armed with the SCUD and with the RPJ. See Press Release March 31, 2006.
Report: The strategic behaviour of multinational oil corporations and the new wars in Sudan
See pdf file at Sudan Tribune on Oil in the Sudan - A complex reality by Luke A Patey, Danish Institute for International Studies, March 2006.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Mark Fiore's new animated cartoon: Preemptive Apology
Turn up your sound and click here to view Mark Fiore's latest animated cartoon "Preemptive Apology" - ending with a link to Save Darfur.
[via Philadelphia Freedom Watch blog, with thanks]
[via Philadelphia Freedom Watch blog, with thanks]
Mohamat Nour's Chadian rebel United Front for Change (FUC) aims to depose Chadian president Deby
Who are these people? Sudanese Janjaweed, organised criminals, mercenaries? Whatever, they claim to be soldiers under the name of United Front for Change (FUC), bringing together several "dissident" Chadian armed gangs, and deny being backed by Sudan as the Chadian government alleged, says an unsourced article from Paris at France based Sudan Tribune 2 April 2006.
According to the article, the leader of the FUC, Mohamat Nour, rejected repeated Chadian accusations of being in the pay of Sudan and told Radio France Internationale:
Photo: Mohamat Nour (ST)
Who is currently "forcing" them to do it by arms? Where do such thugs and criminals get their guns, equipment and sharp new uniforms? Who is funding them - Sudan? France? Surely there is much more to this than meets the eye and that Chad's oil has something to do with it.
Note, a reader left the following comment at SW post Jan 13, 2006:
SUDAN DENIES SUPPORTING CHADIAN REBELS
Photo: Chadian rebels stand by their vehicle in a small camp along the Sudan-Chad border Feb 10, 2006. The Sudanese army on that date denied reports which said Sudan's military lent support to rebels who recently carried out a series of attacks in the eastern Chad, slamming the reports as "baseless and lack of evidences and witnesses," reported Xinhua 1 Apr 2006 - excerpt:
- - -
CHAD ARMY CHIEF KILLED IN BATTLE WITH REBELS
Photo: A soldier of the Chad National Army patrols the wadi Tine, the empty bed of a seasonal river that marks the border between Tine Chad and Tine Sudan, in 2004. See Sudan Tribune 31 Mar 2006: Chad army chief killed in battle with rebels.
Further reading:
Feb 12 2006 Interview: Mahamat Nour the Chad rebel leader demands change, by force if needed
Feb 20 2006 Two Chadian army generals desert, join rebels
Mar 1 2006 Al Qaeda is entrenched in Sudan, UN envoy warns
Mar 15 2006 Chad's President Deby was sponsored by Khartoum and helped into power by the French secret services
According to the article, the leader of the FUC, Mohamat Nour, rejected repeated Chadian accusations of being in the pay of Sudan and told Radio France Internationale:
"If we had received Sudanese assistance since 1994, [President] Idriss [Deby] would not be in power now".
"I am a soldier. We are currently being forced to do it by the arms and we will then hold a national forum which will bring together all Chadians who will then decide on Chad's political future and we, soldiers, will return to our barracks", said Nour.
Photo: Mohamat Nour (ST)
Who is currently "forcing" them to do it by arms? Where do such thugs and criminals get their guns, equipment and sharp new uniforms? Who is funding them - Sudan? France? Surely there is much more to this than meets the eye and that Chad's oil has something to do with it.
Note, a reader left the following comment at SW post Jan 13, 2006:
"The commander in charge of the massacres in Darfur is called MAHAMAT NOUR ABDELKRIM: http://genocidedarfour.blogspot.com/- - -
The "captain" Mahamat Nour, ex-officer of the chadian army, has commanded the Jandjawids with the sudanese logistic. He has been the principal planner of the genocide in Darfur. Thanks to his chadian nationality, he was used as an alibi by the Sudanese government."
SUDAN DENIES SUPPORTING CHADIAN REBELS
Photo: Chadian rebels stand by their vehicle in a small camp along the Sudan-Chad border Feb 10, 2006. The Sudanese army on that date denied reports which said Sudan's military lent support to rebels who recently carried out a series of attacks in the eastern Chad, slamming the reports as "baseless and lack of evidences and witnesses," reported Xinhua 1 Apr 2006 - excerpt:
In a press statement to the official SUNA, Spokesperson of the Sudanese Armed Forces Osman Mohammed al-Aghbash said that the army was completely committed to all international agreements and treaties, especially the Tripoli agreement signed by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Chadian President Idris Deby during a mini African summit in the capital of Libya on Feb. 8. The agreement calls for a good neighborhood between the two countries.Note, Chad and Sudan promised in the agreement that they would not harbor rebels on their territories or conduct mutually hostile activities.
- - -
CHAD ARMY CHIEF KILLED IN BATTLE WITH REBELS
Photo: A soldier of the Chad National Army patrols the wadi Tine, the empty bed of a seasonal river that marks the border between Tine Chad and Tine Sudan, in 2004. See Sudan Tribune 31 Mar 2006: Chad army chief killed in battle with rebels.
Further reading:
Feb 12 2006 Interview: Mahamat Nour the Chad rebel leader demands change, by force if needed
Feb 20 2006 Two Chadian army generals desert, join rebels
Mar 1 2006 Al Qaeda is entrenched in Sudan, UN envoy warns
Mar 15 2006 Chad's President Deby was sponsored by Khartoum and helped into power by the French secret services
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Sudanese rebel group JEM dismisses peace talks and calls for Darfur's sovereignty
War in Sudan has gone on almost non-stop for the past 50 years. Who can tell if it will go on for another 50 years or longer ...
The chair of Darfur rebels group JEM, Khalil Mohammed, on Wednesday dismissed Darfur peace talks as "a waste of time, energy and resources of stakeholders." He said the peace talks would not achieve any meaningful result as they were "merely going in circles."
Mohammed said that if the African Union's April deadline for peace in the region lapsed without success, "the people of Darfur will be left with no choice other than to ask for self-determination".
"If we do not get our own sovereignty, the only alternative is a forceful change of the government in Khartoum," Chairman of Darfur rebel group JEM threatened.
Full report (Sapa-dpa) 30 Mar 2006.
Further reading:
Mar 24 2006 Sharia row hits South Sudan peace deal - Sudan's SPLM pull out of team drafting Khartoum constitution
Mar 30 2006 Eric Reeves Darfur, President Bush, and the Triumph of Expediency
Apr 1 2006 Al-Bashir Interview - US makes Sudan problems part of US politics
Sudanese government not pursuing policy of genocide in Darfur
Many quarters, including UN special envoy Jan Pronk, refer to what is happening in Darfur as ethnic cleansing. People who refer to Darfur as genocide ought to take note of the following excerpt from International Justice Tribune on Darfur, Sudan:
The chair of Darfur rebels group JEM, Khalil Mohammed, on Wednesday dismissed Darfur peace talks as "a waste of time, energy and resources of stakeholders." He said the peace talks would not achieve any meaningful result as they were "merely going in circles."
Mohammed said that if the African Union's April deadline for peace in the region lapsed without success, "the people of Darfur will be left with no choice other than to ask for self-determination".
"If we do not get our own sovereignty, the only alternative is a forceful change of the government in Khartoum," Chairman of Darfur rebel group JEM threatened.
Full report (Sapa-dpa) 30 Mar 2006.
Further reading:
Mar 24 2006 Sharia row hits South Sudan peace deal - Sudan's SPLM pull out of team drafting Khartoum constitution
Mar 30 2006 Eric Reeves Darfur, President Bush, and the Triumph of Expediency
Apr 1 2006 Al-Bashir Interview - US makes Sudan problems part of US politics
Sudanese government not pursuing policy of genocide in Darfur
Many quarters, including UN special envoy Jan Pronk, refer to what is happening in Darfur as ethnic cleansing. People who refer to Darfur as genocide ought to take note of the following excerpt from International Justice Tribune on Darfur, Sudan:
The Security Council referred the Darfur situation to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on 31 March 2005 in Resolution 1593 (2005), after almost two months of negotiations over how to prosecute the crimes occurring in Darfur.
The Resolution was voted in by 11-0 with four members abstaining: the United States, Algeria, Brazil and China. The International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, chaired by the Italian judge Antonio Cassese, concluded in its report published on 31 January 2005 that crimes against humanity and war crimes such as killings, rape, pillaging and forced displacement have been committed since 1 July 2002 by the government-backed forces and the Janjaweed militia.
It declared, however, that the government of Sudan was not pursuing a policy of genocide in Darfur.
US makes Sudan problems part of US politics - Al-Bashir
Click here for text of President Bashir's interview with Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 29 March 2006. Excerpt:
Mr President, you are now the president of the current Arab summit session. Some say you have solved the problem of Sudan in an African manner and there is now an effort to approach the Arabs to help solve the problem of Darfur. Where is Sudan heading? Is it heading toward Africa or the Arab world?
Al-Bashir: Sudan is an Arab-African country. We reject dividing Africa into Arab and black Africa or north and south of the desert. We are now talking about a united Africa and an African Union representing all African countries. According to this concept, we find that most of the Arabs are inside Africa.
Therefore, there can be no talk about Africa without the Arabs. Consequently, one cannot talk about an African unity without having ties with the Arabs. The Arabs outside Africa are linked to the Arabs in Africa. Therefore, all Arabs in and outside Africa are strongly linked to Africa. Our role is strengthening Arab-African cooperation in the interest of Africa and the Arabs. (Jazeera TV/BBCMS/ST)
Mr President, you are now the president of the current Arab summit session. Some say you have solved the problem of Sudan in an African manner and there is now an effort to approach the Arabs to help solve the problem of Darfur. Where is Sudan heading? Is it heading toward Africa or the Arab world?
Al-Bashir: Sudan is an Arab-African country. We reject dividing Africa into Arab and black Africa or north and south of the desert. We are now talking about a united Africa and an African Union representing all African countries. According to this concept, we find that most of the Arabs are inside Africa.
Therefore, there can be no talk about Africa without the Arabs. Consequently, one cannot talk about an African unity without having ties with the Arabs. The Arabs outside Africa are linked to the Arabs in Africa. Therefore, all Arabs in and outside Africa are strongly linked to Africa. Our role is strengthening Arab-African cooperation in the interest of Africa and the Arabs. (Jazeera TV/BBCMS/ST)
Friday, March 31, 2006
Janjaweed slay Chad Army General Abakar Youssouf Mahamat
According to Prensa Latina Mar 31, Chad Army commander General Abakar Youssouf Mahamat died from wounds caused during clashes with Sudanese rebels and militia in the country's eastern zone, government military sources reported Friday. Excerpt:
The news of his death came as a blow to President Idriss Deby and his attempt to boost an offensive against rebels' positions in the east.
According to sources, Janjaweed Arab militias, responsible for the general's death, are fighting in Darfur, backed by the Sudanese government and Chad rebels group.
Deby, a candidate to be re-elected in the May 3 elections, accuses Sudan of supporting those rebels who want to remove him, an accusation Khartoum denies. (mh/iff/mf)
The news of his death came as a blow to President Idriss Deby and his attempt to boost an offensive against rebels' positions in the east.
According to sources, Janjaweed Arab militias, responsible for the general's death, are fighting in Darfur, backed by the Sudanese government and Chad rebels group.
Deby, a candidate to be re-elected in the May 3 elections, accuses Sudan of supporting those rebels who want to remove him, an accusation Khartoum denies. (mh/iff/mf)
Mercenaries from Sudan attacked Chadian town of Modeina - dozens killed, 4,000 civilians displaced
On Friday, the UN refugee agency said that in the past month several unspecified armed groups seized Sudan refugees in Chad camps, recruiting as many as several hundred men from refugee camps in eastern Chad, reports AP Mar 31, 2006:
Feb 9 2006 Sudan: Child soldiers in Janjaweed and breakaway Darfur rebel group NMRD
Jan 28 2006 Sudan accuses Chad of shelling Arm Yakui, West Darfur - NMRD Darfur rebels attack Sudan army base in Arm Yakui
Dec 21 2005 Chad and its links to crisis in Sudan's Darfur
Jan 14 2005 Chad-Sudan: A third rebel movement the NMRD has appeared in Darfur
"Refugees said recruiters mainly targeted boys and men ranging in age from 15 to 35. Some of them were even younger," said Ron Redmond, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.Also, the report explains an armed group crossed the border from Sudan and attacked a town in eastern Chad, leaving dozens dead on both sides of the conflict and forcing 4,000 civilians from their homes, a government official said Friday:
Twelve government soldiers and dozens of fighters from the armed group died in Thursday's violence in Modeina, Gen. Mahamat Ali Abdallah, Chad's territorial administration minister, said in a statement.Further reading:
"Forces coming from Sudan and under the control of the regime of Khartoum have attacked the town of Modeina," Abdallah said, adding that government forces "kicked out the assailants, who returned deep into Sudanese territory."
He described the armed group as "mercenaries" but did not elaborate. The fighting displaced 4,000 civilians, Abdallah said. Sudanese officials were not immediately available for comment.
Feb 9 2006 Sudan: Child soldiers in Janjaweed and breakaway Darfur rebel group NMRD
Jan 28 2006 Sudan accuses Chad of shelling Arm Yakui, West Darfur - NMRD Darfur rebels attack Sudan army base in Arm Yakui
Dec 21 2005 Chad and its links to crisis in Sudan's Darfur
Jan 14 2005 Chad-Sudan: A third rebel movement the NMRD has appeared in Darfur
No-flight zone over Darfur would be impossible to implement
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Monday phoned NATO's chief to develop a range of possible options for supporting the AMIS and its possible takeover by the UN. But officials said there was unlikely to be a step-change in NATO's military commitment.
"There will be a beefed up NATO role, but there will be no NATO lead in Darfur. People here are talking about more of the same, maybe with more planners and logistical help," said one. Appathurai said the 57-year old bloc would look at Annan's request "in the context of what NATO is already providing."
One NATO diplomat told the International Herald Tribune that neither the Sudanese government nor the African Union "want to see white, European troops coming into Sudan," adding that the idea of a no-flight zone over Darfur would be impossible to implement. "Which NATO country would be willing to shoot down a Sudanese plane?"
Full report by Gareth Harding (UPI/ST) 30 Mar 2006.
"There will be a beefed up NATO role, but there will be no NATO lead in Darfur. People here are talking about more of the same, maybe with more planners and logistical help," said one. Appathurai said the 57-year old bloc would look at Annan's request "in the context of what NATO is already providing."
One NATO diplomat told the International Herald Tribune that neither the Sudanese government nor the African Union "want to see white, European troops coming into Sudan," adding that the idea of a no-flight zone over Darfur would be impossible to implement. "Which NATO country would be willing to shoot down a Sudanese plane?"
Full report by Gareth Harding (UPI/ST) 30 Mar 2006.
NATO ruled out sending troops to Sudan's Darfur
"No one is discussing, planning or considering a NATO force on the ground in Darfur. That is not one of the options," spokesman James Appathurai told reporters Wednesday after a meeting of NATO ambassadors.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a NATO official told United Press International that the idea of the alliance dispatching ground troops to Darfur was a "non-starter with the Africans, a non-starter with the UN and a non-starter with NATO."
Officials in Brussels also criticized the US president for sending out confused messages about what he expects from the alliance. "Bush has been a little bit unclear in his language," said one, referring to the president's call for 20,000 peacekeepers to be sent to Darfur under NATO's command.
Full report (UPI/ST) 30 Mar 2006.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a NATO official told United Press International that the idea of the alliance dispatching ground troops to Darfur was a "non-starter with the Africans, a non-starter with the UN and a non-starter with NATO."
Officials in Brussels also criticized the US president for sending out confused messages about what he expects from the alliance. "Bush has been a little bit unclear in his language," said one, referring to the president's call for 20,000 peacekeepers to be sent to Darfur under NATO's command.
Full report (UPI/ST) 30 Mar 2006.
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