THE CONFLICT IN DARFUR Department of Foreign Affairs 10 September 2007

BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT Outbreak of the conflict in February 2003 Justice and Equity Movement(JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) oppose Government of Sudan (GoS) Cause: Economic and political marginalisation

SECURITY SITUATION Since outbreak of conflict it is estimated that over have been killed, over 4.5 million IDPs and over refugees in Chad..

SECURITY SITUATION (Continued) Nature of security situation differs in three states of Darfur: –Western Darfur: cross-border tensions between Chad and Sudan –Northern Darfur: conflict between Government and Darfur Peace Agreement non-signatory factions –Southern Darfur: ethnic conflict

SECURITY SITUATION (Continued) Ethnic Conflict on the rise: –Between Zaghawa and Maaliyah –Recently among Arab ethnic groups, namely, Rezeiget and Torjein for scarce resource and land as is nomadic migration season Conflict spreading to neighbouring Kordofan region –Attack by JEM and SLM of the Wad Banda government base, which resulted in the death of 41 people including Sudan Security Forces Reason: claim base is used by GoS as the logistic and supply centre for ongoing aerial attacks on South Darfur

GEO-POLITICAL DIMENSION OF DARFUR CRISIS Spill-over effect to Chad and Central African Republic Refugees and cross-border attacks EU proposing to deploying troops on the border of the three countries viz. Darfur, Chad and CAR Above strained relations between Sudan and Chad, and thus the signing of agreements to mend relations

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION Ethnic clashes led to further displacement of people Malnutrition on the rise: beyond the emergency threshold of 15% to over 17% Situation exacerbated by continued attacks against aid workers, car hijackings and looting of aid convoys, which has increased by 150%.

PEACE PROCESS Darfur Peace Agreement signed on 05 May 2006 by the GoS and SLM Minni Minawi faction Minni Minawi appointed Senior Assistant to the President Challenges: –Fragmentation of Darfur armed groups. Over 17 groups in existence. –Several peace initiatives, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, SPLM, UN, AU recently France.

PEACE PROCESS (Continued) Efforts by UN and AU: –Joint AU-UN Road Map for Darfur Political Process: Phase I: convergence of all peace initiatives and consultations on the political process and parties’ positions Phase II: Pre-negotiation phase, which includes extensive consultations with the Government and Darfur armed groups Phase III: Negotiation phase

PEACE PROCESS (Continued) Progress on implementation of Road Map Phase I: –UN and AU efforts –French initiative Phase II: –Arusha consultations held on 4-5 August 2007 –Purpose: creating an enabling environment for the non- signatories to meet and consult among themselves, and with other participants. –Outcome: Adopted a common position in preparation for the forthcoming talks with the GoS

PEACE PROCESS (Continued) –AbdelWahid Al Nur failed to attend the Arusha consultations: commands wide support of the Fur, which is the majority ethnic group in Darfur and popular among IDPs. –Reason: demands the deployment of an international peacekeeping force UN Secretary General visited Sudan on 4-5 September 2007, seen as an effort to tie the GoS’ commitment to ensure speedy deployment of UNAMID.

PEACE PROCESS Post Arusha Challenges: a.Representation of all armed groups not only Arusha participants b.Inclusion of forces beyond armed groups

PEACE PROCESS Phase II: –Chad proposed to host preparatory talks –SPLM Leadership led by Vice President of the GOSS, Dr Riek Machr Teny to hold talks with AbdelWahid Al Nur Phase III: –Venue: Libya –Date: 27 October

PEACEKEEPING 28 May 2004 Addis Ababa agreement on establishment of a peacekeeping mission African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) first deployed in Challenges: –Lack of financial and logistical support (heavy reliance on donor funding) –7 000 not sufficient to cover the whole of Darfur –Suffered casualties Due to above, calls for UNMIS to reinforce AU Mission (UNSC Resolution 1590).

PEACEKEEPING (Continued) 15 March 2006 AU PSC Communiqué - end mandate of AMIS by 30 September 2006 and rehat AMIS UNSC Resolution 1679 of 16 May 2006 – tasked UNSG to submit recommendations to UNSC on rehatting UNSC Resolution 1706 of 31 August 2006 expanded mandate of UNMIS to support the implementation of DPA and tasked UNSG to consult with the AU and GoS on rehatting 28 September 2006 UNSG’ recommendations and UN Support Package to AMIS 16 November 2006 Addis Ababa High Level Consultative meeting detailed basic elements of UN Support Package

PEACEKEEPING (Continued) 30 November 2006 AU PSC endorsed the Three-phase UN Support Package Phase I: light support package Phase II: heavy support package Phase III: AU-UN Hybrid Force Resistance by GoS

PEACEKEEPING (Continued) Currently of AMIS on the ground Mandate of AMIS expires in December 2007 On 31 July 2007, UN Security Council passed Resolution 1769 authorising the deployment of a UN-AU Hybrid Force in Sudan (UNAMID) military personnel and civilian police to be deployed

PEACEKEEPING (Continued) African countries that have pledged include: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria (700 troops), Rwanda (800 troops), Senegal. South Africa has been requested to deploy

PEACEKEEPING (Continued) Other countries that have pledged include: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, France, India, Indonesia (150 civilian police), Nepal, Pakistan. However, AU Chairperson, Alpha Konare indicated that there is no need for troop contribution by non-African countries as there are sufficient troops within Africa to carry out the mandate of UN Security Council in Darfur Challenge: logistics, equipment

SANCTIONS UN Security Council divided on matter: UK and France have resumed the threat of sanctions, while China argues that dialogue and not threats of sanctions will help resolve Darfur conflict US has imposed sanctions on Sudan US has characterised the crisis as genocide

HUMANITARIAN LAW ICC issued warrants of arrests for Ahmed Haroun (former Minister of Interior and now State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs) and Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (militia leader). Accused of 51 counts of violation of Humanitarian Law in Darfur.

HUMANITARIAN LAW (Continued) Khartoum appointed Ahmed Haroura to chair committee established by NCP and SPLM to monitor the security situation in Darfur President Al Bashir handed over the Darfur Dossier to Dr Nafi Ali Nafi, his close assistant and Deputy Chairperson on NCP

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