Sudan Watch (to July 2012)

[M-A Lagrange]

Sudan and JEM rebels agree to sign a final deal for peace in Darfur

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34230

And when a brand new beautiful world is blowing then comes the rain…

Darfur rebel factions unite under new umbrella in Doha
February 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Ten Darfur rebel groups currently in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar announced today that they have joined together under a new umbrella called ‘The Liberation Movement for Justice’ removing one of the major obstacles that faced the mediators in Doha as they attempted to jumpstart peace talks with the Sudanese government to resolve the seven year conflict.

However, four other groups refused to join the new umbrella including SLM faction of Ahmed Abdel-Shafi, SLM-Unity, Revolutionary Forces Front, SLM faction led by Abdullah Khalil. These movements comprise mainly of Addis Ababa factions brought together by US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration.
Mahjoub Hussein who is the Secretary General of ‘The Liberation Movement for Justice’ said during a press conference that they will not be a party to the JEM-Khartoum accord signed today and that they will sign their own framework agreement in the coming days.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34232

We will se how far can Qatar facilitate that second peace agreement.
There still are 6 movements out of the peace process (peace process number ???).

However, Khartoum really seems in hurry to get his house clean before the elections, the 2011 referendum and the war that will follow (according to SPLM/SPLA). Especially as this time SPLA has decided to put war in the north.
Somehow, they looks like 2 children: you put may “country” at war then I will spoil yours now…
And we do call that peace process?

[M-A Lagrange]

Some interesting news about Darfur and he race for peace before the Sudan elections:
(unfortunately in French as I did not find any link in English but I translated the key points)

Force mixte Tchad-Soudan, un support inlassable pour le retour de la paix au Tchad et Soudan
http://www.alwihdainfo.com/Force-mix...a3068.html?com

A mix force Chad Sudan is being created to secure the border and settle the peace between the 2 countries. This force will be 3000 men strong. As stated in the article, it’s not a first try, it’s the redrafting of what was agreed in 2006/7.
I must say that I do agree with the comment left on that page: I have very little confidence this will work. But… I like to be positively surprised.

Still on Darfur Doha peace agreement progress: prisoner exchanges have started.

Soudan : Le chef des rebelles darfouris du JEM ordonne la libération de 50 prisonniers du gouvernement
http://www.elmoudjahid.com/accueil/monde/52887.html

Khartoum did free 57 men, including 50 war prisonners from the attack on Omdurman who were condemn to death penalty.
On its side, JEM free 50 prisonners. As usual, ICRC is facilitating and providing support.
Apparently, for once, this peace agreement is being put in place.

But peace in Darfur is not really for tomorrow:
Since two days, Khartoum forces are conducting an extremely violent attack in Darfur on the non signatory rebel group SLA.
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/3/20100226/...s-d407853.html

The UN Special Envoy will meet in Kigali next Friday to discuss Darfur peace. The delegation will be conducted by Ibrahim Gambari, Chiefof joint mission ONU?UA in Darfur (MINUAD).
http://www.afriquejet.com/actualites...022644852.html
See also the MINUAD site for the original declaration.

[M-A Lagrange]

Sudan dismisses US Rice’s remarks on arms embargo violation
The Sudanese government discounted statements made by US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice saying that she is isolated in her positions within the UN Security Council (UNSC).
On Thursday Rice said there is a continuous pattern of weapons flowing to Darfur, acts of sexual and gender-based violence committed with impunity, military over-flights and offensive actions.
She further said that “this behavior does not suggest a new willingness on the part of Sudan to fully engage in the peace process”.
The spokesman of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, Muawiya Osman Khalid, said that Rice is at odds with “objective parties at the US administration itself that are concerned with supporting the ongoing process Darfur and solving the root causes of the issue”.
He added that the “personal hostility of Rice to Sudan prevented her to recognize that the issue of arms in Darfur cannot be solved through sanctions committees, but through a comprehensive peace agreement that can be reached by the ongoing peace process in Doha”.
Khalid accused Rice of forcing Sudan into the UNSC agenda “so that she can bash Sudan” adding that her “deceptive statements” confirms her continuous hostility to Sudan government.
“Rice is a short-sighted personality whose artificial concern with Darfur did not motivate her to appreciate the so far adopted peace steps or the framework agreement signed with the Justice and Equality Movement that was welcomed by the whole world”.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34345

[M-A Lagrange]

Mbeki’s panel flirting with failure in Sudan
The former South African president and head of the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki sent a letter to leaders of Sudanese parties this week informing them of an indefinite adjournment of a summit that was to bring them together to discuss a number of thorny issues primarily related to the upcoming elections in April.
"The panel had twice to postpone the meeting at the request of some of the parties. This is because these parties wanted that various issues should be resolved before the meeting convened...the panel respected this request and convened a number of meetings with the parties concerned to enable them to resolve the matters they have raised" Mbeki said in a copy of the letter seen by Sudan Tribune dated March 8.
"Regrettably, in the end, all the numerous efforts of the panel to facilitate a resolution of these and other matters failed. It is therefore became obvious that in the light of this negative development it would not be possible for the summit meeting to achieve what the panel had considered would be its historic result, namely the adoption of the Electoral Code of Conduct and the Declaration of Common Commitments".
The downbeat-toned letter said that convening the summit under these circumstances "would only serve further to foul the atmosphere in the country by exacerbating the divisions among the Sudanese political leadership".
Mbeki said his panel "gained a deeper understanding of the prevalent and most unfortunate mistrust which has so far made it impossible to organize an open and frank encounter among all Sudan’s political leaders to discuss all major national challenges, which we are certain all these leaders desire".

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34424


On the East front, the situation is not better, According to Angolapress (French version in link) despite the 2006 peace agreement and 600 millions of aid the economical situation is still very bad. What mainly pushed South and Darfur to war (poverty, non access to power…) are re surfacing again.
Will East be the new double front?
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/f...39663e665.html


The border is not set and it does create problems. Last week the SPLA have announced that nomads from North did attack a SPLA out post in the border area.
(again, French link below)
http://lci.tf1.fr/filnews/monde/accr...s-5770152.html

[M-A Lagrange]

And the UN say thank you to everybody to have done the job for them...

May I also recognize and strongly commend the State of Qatar for the tremendous investment of resources in facilitating this process and for its willingness to commit even more resources for the development of Darfur. My brother, Minister Mahmoud, deserves no less commendation for his personal commitment and diligence in supporting and facilitating the peace process in both the logistics and the substantive aspects. The Government of Libya and Mr. Scott Gration also deserve commendation for their efforts in bringing together the groups in the LJM.
I would not end my remarks without acknowledging the critical role which President Deby and the Government of Chad has been, and continues to play, in advancing the peace process, and in particular to commend and appreciate the personal commitment of Minister Mahamat Faki in this regard.

http://appablog.wordpress.com/2010/0...tice-movement/

Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), said it was critical now for Khartoum and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), which signed the framework agreement today, to implement its contents.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201003180930.html

I do agree with him. What is important in peace agreements is the implementation more than the piece of paper. May be UN staff should include them selves into such declarations. Like when I deploy a force to impose peace: I use soldiers….

[M-A Lagrange]

Armed men kidnap three aid workers in South Darfur

May 18, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Three aid workers including a woman form the United State have been abducted today in South Darfur state by unknown gunmen on Tuesday, a UN official stated.

A United Nations press officer in Khartoum, Samuel Hendricks, said the incident occurred when the kidnappers stopped a two-vehicle convoy transporting nine aid workers in a village near Nyala.

"It happened near a village called Abu Ajura in South Darfur as the convoy was heading to Nyala. Three of the people were captured. The remaining six are in Abu Ajura and are believed to be secure," Hendricks said in a statement to the AFP.

South Darfur authorities and US embassy in Khartoum confirmed the kidnapping whoever the identity of the American female and the name of the aid group remain undisclosed. But a South Darfur state minister, Abdel Baqi al-Jilani, spoke about an American organization.

Abduction of international staffers becomes more and more recurrent in Darfur. but the motivations differ from a group to another.

Abdel Baqi said the abduction could be financially motivated

"From our experience, we expect that a ransom will be demanded. We had asked aid groups working in Darfur to decrease foreigners’ movements there," the state minister said.

Onemore time Aid workers are taken hostage!
After France being tagetted, it is USA.
All my support to them, where ever they are.

For all the soft rebel with a cause: keep on fighting

[M-A Lagrange]

Sudan locates kidnappers of three aid worker

May 26, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Security services have located the position of three aid workers kidnapped by unknown gunmen last week, a Sudanese official said on Tuesday.
The three aid workers including an American woman were abducted on 18 May while travelling to the South Darfur capital, Nyala in a two vehicle convoy.
"We succeeded in locating them and we will negotiate their release using local mediators," said state minister for humanitarian affairs Abdel Baqi Al-Jilani
"But we will refuse to pay a ransom and we reserve the right to bring them to justice," he further said.
Abduction of international staffers becomes more and more recurrent in Darfur. but the motivations differ from a group to another.
Abdel Baqi last week said the abduction could be financially motivated.
"From our experience, we expect that a ransom will be demanded. We had asked aid groups working in Darfur to decrease foreigners’ movements there," he said.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35198


Free them NOW!

For all the soft rebels with a cause: keep on fighting!