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Renewing the Pledge – joint paper released

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

In a joint paper released today titled Renewing the Pledge: Re-engaging the Guarantors to the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement, 25 signing organizations including the Save Darfur Coalition call for more intensive political involvement by the international community in the final six months leading up to the referendum on southern secession, scheduled for January 9, 2011. The paper emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to the multiple political concerns in Sudan and outlines concrete steps that CPA guarantors can take to help ensure adequate preparations for a peaceful and credible referendum.

The executive summary is below; read the full paper here.

The clock is ticking fast towards what might be the most important date in modern Sudanese history – two referenda in Sudan that are likely to result in the breakup of Africa’s largest state. With six months remaining until 9 January 2011, the scheduled date of the referenda, the run-up to, and outcome of, the vote must be managed with extreme care. The Guarantors to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA ), who invested considerable effort in obtaining the CPA on 9 January 2005, have both a responsibility and an ability to help Sudan implement the CPA and prevent further conflict. It is imperative that the Guarantors urgently redouble their efforts to ensure adequate preparations for the referenda, and help secure agreements on sensitive issues such as border demarcation and oil sharing.

The experiences of recent years have demonstrated that focusing on one part of Sudan at the expense of another complicates the situation in both. Focusing too narrowly on the challenges of securing a peaceful post-CPA transition in Southern Sudan could backfire. The CPA Guarantors must not relegate the situation in Northern Sudan – especially the conflict in Darfur, where violence in May 2010 claimed the highest number of lives since 2008 – to the second tier of priorities.

As the Guarantors step up their political involvement, we hope to see generous donor support. More needs to be done now to bring in the requisite diplomatic, financial, and technical resources to put in place the requirements for the referenda and, after the vote, to improve Sudan’s stability and dire state of human development.

1. Use the upcoming Consultative Forum meeting in Khartoum on 17 July 2010 to agree to an urgent expansion of international efforts to prepare for peaceful, credible and timely referenda in Southern Sudan and Abyei.

2. Restate publicly, clearly and collectively the internationally recognized right of the people of Southern Sudan to self-determination. At the July 2010 AU Summit in Uganda, African Heads of State should reaffirm their unequivocal support for this right and pledge to recognize the outcomes of two free and fair referenda. The League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should follow suit, and be encouraged to do so by the Troika (US, UK and Norway) and the UN Secretary-General.

3. Appoint a high-level individual to travel to Abyei, Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan consistently over the next six months to ensure adequate preparations for the referendum in Abyei and the popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.

4. Call on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to build up its civilian capacity in Abyei and facilitate inter-communal dialogue on the future of the area and call on the UN Development Program (UNDP) to consider extending its Southern Kordofan conflict prevention program to Abyei.

5. Persuade the National Congress Party of Sudan (NCP ) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM ), the two parties to the CPA , to make public commitments that the rights to freedom of movement, residence and property currently afforded to all Sudanese citizens will be preserved regardless of the outcome of the referenda.

6. Provide technical assistance to the CPA parties to reach an equitable agreement on oil sharing, to be backed up by independent third party monitoring.

7. Encourage UNMIS to carry out a careful assessment of its civilian protection capabilities, including identification of the weakest links, leading to preventive UNMIS deployments in flashpoint areas to deter future violence.

8. State clearly and publicly that international human rights standards must be respected in Northern as well as in Southern Sudan, and that the Guarantors will uphold their commitment to the goals of democratic transformation in Sudan.

9. Call on the African Union/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAM ID) to focus on its primary objective of protecting civilians and to increase and make public its human rights reporting.

10. Call on donors to Sudan to revisit the present plan to hold a large donor conference only after the announcement of the referenda results and consider additional closed-door resource mobilization meetings to ensure adequate resources are available in time. Guarantors should encourage investment in renewed South-South dialogue, conflict prevention and strengthening local peace-building capacities.

Tags: African Union, Darfur, Government of Sudan, Human Rights, Obama Administration, Peace Process, South Sudan, UNAMID
Posted in African Union, Human Rights, Peace Process, Peacekeeping, Referendum, United Nations | No Comments »

Justice for Al-Bashir

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

On Wednesday, July 14 at 12 pm (EST ) the Sudanese Diaspora and activists around the DC, Maryland and Virginia area will be coming to Lafayette Park (before the White House) to call on the U.S and the International community to bring Al-Bashir to justice and to ensure accountability for crimes committed in Darfur which is a necessary step towards reconciliation and sustainable peace for the people of Sudan.

Almost 2 years ago on July 14, 2008 the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged Omar Al-Bashir with orchestrating genocide against the people of Darfur and other marginalized cities in Sudan that were opposed to his regime. The charges against Al-Bashir include genocide and crimes against humanity. To date Al-Bashir has not been brought to justice or arrested for these charges and the people of Darfur and Sudan can not afford to wait any longer.

Come out and stand with the people of Sudan.

________________________________________________________________________

Join the Sudanese Diaspora and Activists leaders on

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

@ 12:00 p.m

Lafayette Park

(Pennsylvania Ave and Jackson Pl, NW)

Washington, DC 20006

We are calling for:

“THE ARREST OF OMAR AL-BASHIR”

For more information contact Jimmy Mulla at jkmulla@gmail.com / 202.360.9324

Tags: Darfur, genocide, Government of Sudan, ICC, Obama Administration, Omar al-Bashir, President Obama, Washington DC, White House
Posted in Activism, ICC / Justice, Obama Administration, Uncategorized, United Nations | No Comments »

Voices for the Silenced at the UN Human Rights Council

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Last Wednesday, I arrived in Geneva to attend the 14th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UNHRC was scheduled to hear from the Independent Expert on Sudan, Mr. Mohammed Chande Othman, about the current human rights situation in Sudan (his poor health may ultimately prevent him from personally presenting a report to the Council). The Independent Expert received his mandate last summer after a contentious debate, and there are worries that the Sudanese government will attempt to block an extension of his mandate this year.

I will write more on the extension as the negotiations continue to unfold this week. Today though, I wanted to highlight a side event held last week by a number of partner organizations. “Voices for the Silenced” gave three Sudanese human rights defenders an opportunity to brief country delegates, journalists and others attendees on the deterioration of human rights in Sudan.

Ali Agaab of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) led off by discussing the “complete failure of the justice system in Sudan.” He chronicled an array of human rights violations of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) – including the gruesome detention, torture, and death of a Darfuri student activist in February. The new National Security Act passed by parliament earlier this year, he said, has done nothing to restrict the powers of the NISS who continue to act with impunity.

An advance copy of the Independent Expert’s report confirms this reality:

Under the new bill which the President has not yet assented to, the NISS has powers of arrest and detention for a period of 30 days without any prosecutorial approval or judicial order. The new law also grants NISS personnel immunity from criminal prosecution and civil liability.

The next speaker was Faisal Elbagir, a journalist, who has experienced first-hand the intimidation of the NISS. As General Secretary of the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Development, he was one of many individuals targeted in the weeks before and after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on March 4, 2009 for Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir. In a subsequent interview with Amnesty International, Faisal recounted his forced exile:

The interrogation took place in Elbagir’s office in February 2009, just before Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir had been issued with an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

(more…)

Tags: Government of Sudan, Human Rights, Sudan, Sudanese elections, United Nations
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International Day of Peacekeeping

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Today, May 29, is International Day of Peacekeeping. Since 2003, proponents of peace throughout the world have marked this day as one to remember the sacrifices made by so many throughout the years in hidden and forgotten areas of the world; areas where cameras don’t often go, with names oft mispronounced, but where violence and human rights abuses rage at horrific rates.

UN peacekeepers have a mission of stabilization. Often deployed to countries to protect people they do not know, they serve with distinction, bravery, and a lasting endurance that saves and protects lives.

In the words of Ambassador Susan Rice:

UN peacekeepers have saved countless lives and delivered tangible results. Many countries are today more peaceful and stable because of their efforts, including Namibia, El Salvador, Cambodia and Mozambique. But today, UN peacekeeping is under severe strain because of a rise in the volume and complexity of operations across the globe. Over the last seven years, the UN launched eight new missions in rapid succession, placing a greater demand on a finite supply of well-equipped and trained troops and police. More than 124,000 peacekeepers from 115 countries are currently serving in 15 missions around the world.

One of those areas where the mission, role, and presence remain so important is in the Darfur region of Sudan. That’s why, last week, the Save Darfur Coalition wrote to the President of the Security Council citing growing concerns around insecurity in the region. Specifically, Save Darfur recommended the following actions to strengthen the efforts of the UN/African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID):

Demand accountability and transparency in all investigations of attacks against humanitarian and peacekeeping operations and their assets, and actively participate in bringing perpetrators to justice in accordance with the rule of law;
Demand that all parties live up to their commitments as outlined by the framework agreements signed in Doha and encourage their return to the negotiation table;
Ensure the Sudanese government’s full cooperation in permitting UNAMID forces to broadly interpret their mandate to protect civilians and humanitarian operations through the robust and proactive implementation of the applicable rules of engagement;
Demand repercussions for any obstruction to operations of UNAMID forces by the Sudanese government and Darfur’s armed movements;
Urge UNAMID commanders to expand the range of security zones patrolled by peacekeeping forces;
Demand adherence of the Sudanese government, all armed parties, and states to the UNSC arms embargo, per UNSC Resolution 1591; and
Continue to fully resource and finance all operational needs of the force.

The UNAMID presence in Darfur is an absolue necessity. As they’ve proven time and time again, they, the troops, can get the job done. The only question is if they’ll get all the political support and international backing they need.

So, again – thank you to the brave men and women who serve as UN peacekeepers. We stand with you, as we stand with the people of Darfur who continue to hope for peace, security, and justice.

Tags: Darfur, Susan Rice, UNAMID
Posted in Humanitarian Aid, Peacekeeping, United Nations | No Comments »

Save Darfur Letter to the UN Security Council on Rising Insecurity in Darfur

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

A Soldier Serving with Darfur's Beleaguered Protection Force (Photo: AFP/Getty)

Security in Darfur continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by reports of intense fighting over the weekend and the armed kidnapping of three aid workers on Tuesday. Amid a faltering ceasefire, deadly attacks against peacekeepers, violence in Jebel Marra, and troubling news of a military build-up, the Save Darfur Coalition has written to the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations – this month’s president of the Security Council – to address the escalating crisis and its impact on the lives and livelihoods of Darfuri civilians. Today, the UNSC is due to discuss UNAMID in a briefing this morning and consultations in the afternoon.

The text of the letter is below, and can also downloaded it as a PDF.

May 17, 2010

H.E. Dr. Nawaf Salam

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of Lebanon
to the United Nations in New York
866 UN Plaza Suite 531-33
New York, NY 10017

Via Facsimile: +1 212 838 2819

Your Excellency Dr. Salam:

We are writing to you on behalf of more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations that make up the Save Darfur Coalition on the occasion of your term as president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urge that you make the increasing security concerns in Darfur a top priority during the month of May.

We appreciate your recent reflection that this month presents Lebanon with the opportunity to enhance its global image, in part through assuming a key role on issues relating to Sudan. We also believe that the leadership of Lebanon can deliver renewed international attention and political momentum toward addressing the crucial challenges that face Sudan and its tumultuous region of Darfur, where hostilities have recently escalated. The Save Darfur Coalition is gravely concerned about current insecurity in Darfur, particularly with regard to the situation in the central region of Jebel Marra and a faltering ceasefire between a leading rebel movement and the Sudanese government. Just this past weekend, fierce clashes are reported to have taken place in Jebel Moon, with potentially serious implications for the plight of local civilians, border security with neighboring Chad, and prospects for peace talks scheduled to resume this week. These developments – in addition to small arms proliferation and an increase in tribal conflict – pose a significant threat to the lives and livelihoods of thousands of civilians.

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Tags: African Union, Darfur, Government of Sudan, Jebel Marra, Jebel Moon, JEM, Justice and Equality Movement, kidnapping, Lebanon, Nawaf Salam, Peacekeeping, Samaritan's Purse, Save Darfur Coalition, Sudan Armed Forces, UN, UNAMID, United Nations Security Council, UNSC
Posted in Peacekeeping, United Nations | No Comments »

Pat Farrell – May’s Darfur Hero has a generous heart

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

The Darfur Heroes program is a way for the Save Darfur Coalition to honor individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This May, Save Darfur Coalition is proud to honor Pat Farrell. Pat has been a longtime activist in the Sudan movement and a generous donor every month since 2006. Her contributions have helped support advocacy programs to raise media outreach and pressure policymakers. Find below her own words about her passion for the people of Sudan.

I became interested in the situation in Darfur several years ago. I am a nurse, and was working at a school where Mia Farrow’s son was a student. I had the opportunity to meet Mia a few times and become aware of her outstanding devotion to the women and children who suffer such horrible atrocities. I called Mia, and after a brief conversation I knew that I could no longer just stand by, but had to become active in the Save Darfur Coalition’s advocacy work.

I have tried as much as possible to raise awareness of this cause among family and friends. I contribute a small amount every month and have attended rallies to bring more attention to the situation in Darfur. My dream of joining a medical team and traveling to the refugee camps to help even more people would be hard to achieve. Nevertheless, my intention is to continue my devotion to the women and children of Darfur no matter what it takes. I am an adoptive parent and have had the opportunity to see up close and personal the tremendous need world-wide to help children. After my experience I am left to ask you – how can we not?

Tags: Activism, Darfur, Darfur Hero, Mia Farrow, Pat Farrell, Peace, Save Darfur
Posted in Activist Stories, Humanitarian Aid, Uncategorized, United Nations, Violence Against Women | No Comments »

UNAMID Under Fire – Peacekeepers Killed in Darfur

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

UNAMID Soldiers Mourn the Death of Fellow Peacekeepers (REUTERS/Stuart Price/2008)

The last six months have been both difficult and deadly for UNAMID. On Friday, the targeted slaying of two peacekeepers served as a troubling reminder of that fact.

Although the operation has made significant progress toward full deployment, and it has finally received six of its desperately needed tactical helicopters, the mission’s peacekeepers remain under direct threat from Darfur’s rampant lawlessness and insecurity. Numerous incidents consistently underscore the reality that greater troop numbers, more materiel, and sporadic donations of force multipliers are not the only elements necessary for a robust and effective operation capable of implementing its mandate to protect civilians and humanitarian aid efforts.

As we wrote late last year, the UN-AU hybrid mission in Darfur has been called many things, from being described as a pawn or a proxy to being dismissed as incompetent or irrelevant. But the truth is almost ignored: these peacekeepers are quite literally the only force standing between a vulnerable, victimized population and criminally rampant insecurity. In December, five Rwandans gave up their lives as part of that important effort. Last week, two Egyptian soldiers were killed as they served to bring peace to Darfur. Three others were seriously wounded.

The peacekeepers were travelling near Katila on Friday when they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen not far from Edd al-Fursan in South Darfur. The assailants launched their attack without warning, indiscriminately shooting at the Egyptian convoy. They fled after the contingent returned fire.

AU and UN officials have expressed outrage at Friday’s attack, from describing it as “cowardly” to denouncing it as a “war crime.” In a statement, UNAMID confirmed its “undaunted and unwavering” commitment to its mission, while calling on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

This incident comes not long after the results were announced in Sudan’s historic nationwide elections. Last month, shortly after the polls opened, four South African peacekeepers were kidnapped in an apparent attempt by their abductors—newly formed militia —to demonstrate that the necessary security conditions for elections to take place in Darfur did not exist. Just before the voting took place, the European Union withdrew its observer team over staff safety concerns.

But banditry and kidnapping are not the only threats facing both the local population and the force tasked with its protection. Fighting between the GoS and rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has been confirmed in Jebel Moon, near the Chadian border, amid a faltering ceasefire between the two sides. In the central region of Jebel Marra, regular clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid faction (SLA-AW) have killed an estimated 400 civilians and displaced tens of thousands more. Obstructionism by all parties involved – notably the Government of Sudan and the SLA-AW – has left the local population without access to military protection or humanitarian assistance. In March, a UNAMID convoy was attempting to verify the clashes and the civilian toll when its 60 peacekeepers were ambushed, detained overnight, and robbed of their vehicles and equipment. The Government of Sudan chastised the mission for failing to heed its advice by attempting to undertake their investigation.

In response to Friday’s attacks, the GoS appears to have acted quickly. Wire services are reporting that Sudanese police have arrested two suspected perpetrators and are looking for five others also believed to have taken part in the assault. It remains to be seen whether these men will be held to account in a transparent manner consistent with the rule of law.

If Sudan is committed – as it claims – to ensuring UNAMID’s success and protecting its citizens from criminal violence, these suspects should be interrogated and tried with full UN and AU involvement. When the Rwandan peacekeepers were killed last December, Khartoum announced the arrest of the six men responsible, but little information has been publicly available about the process by which they have been tried for these crimes. This is, after all, a government that – through embracing impunity – has historically not simply failed to deter, but has effectively provided incentives to opportunistic criminals and looters to rob well intentioned peacekeepers of their equipment and, more importantly, their lives.

Tags: African Union, Darfur, Egyptian Peacekeepers, Government of Sudan, JEM, Justice and Equality Movement, peacekeepers, SLA-AW, Sudan, Sudan Armed Forces, UNAMID
Posted in African Union, Peacekeeping, United Nations | No Comments »

US Mission To The United Nations Comments On Sudanese Elections

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

At a press briefing earlier today Ambassador Susan Rice discussed Sudan’s upcoming elections, telling reporters that the circumstances on the ground were “quite disturbing.”

Here is an excerpt of today’s briefing:

Ambassador Rice: Good morning everyone.

I just want to say a few words about the briefing that we received today from Undersecretary-General Le Roy about the electoral process in Sudan. He gave a very comprehensive and detailed summary of the circumstances on the ground, much of which we find quite disturbing.

He underscored and reinforced what have been our longstanding concerns about serious government restrictions on political freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of association, the opportunity for all political actors to campaign without impediment, harassment of the media, limitations on access to polling stations for many of the people of Sudan, in particular in Darfur as we have highlighted in the past, large segments of the population, particularly the internally displaced population will not have the opportunity to participate in this polling process. And indeed, the decision by the European Union to withdraw its observers, announced yesterday, from Darfur underscores just how insecure and problematic the electoral process is in that portion of the country, as well as elsewhere.

We are going to remain focused on this. We had seen these elections as many did, as meant to be an important milestone in the implementation of the CPA. Unfortunately, the trends on the ground are very disturbing, and we will and we are judging these elections on the basis of whether they provide an opportunity for the people of Sudan to fully and adequately express their political will, and whether they meet international standards and regrettably, the trends in this regard are not encouraging.

…

Reporter: Scott Gration has said that he thought the elections would be as free and fair as possible, can you explain, I guess, what that means, whether that is being kind of retracted in light of what you said? Do you think that the UN, both UNAMID and UNMIS should be more, they said very little about as these events are taking place at least publically, what is their role for trying to secure a free and fair election without incident?

Ambassador Rice: Well I think, as we heard from Undersecretary-General Le Roy, UNMIS is playing an important role in trying to support both logistically and from a security point-of-view, preparations for the elections. The primary responsibility, however, for the conduct of these elections lies with the government and the national electoral commission and indeed the parties themselves. So, UNMIS is playing a supporting role.

With respect to the characterization of the elections, I think as we heard from Undersecretary-General Le Roy this morning, and as we have said repeatedly at this mike and various other places, the trends are not encouraging. There have been some significant impediments on the ground, restrictions on civil liberties, harassment of the media, reduction in the number of polling places, insecurity, an inability, of many of the people, particularly in Darfur, to be able to register and participate. So, we have overtime expressed our concerns, those concerns are mounting as the election approaches, and we are certainly underscoring the importance of steps being taken immediately to try to mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, in the time that remains, these very serious infringements on free political activity.

Reporter: Should there be a delay?

Ambassador Rice: I think our view has been that if a very brief delay were decided to be necessary, and we thought that a brief delay would enable the process to be more credible, we would be prepared to entertain that. That’s obviously up to the authorities themselves, but the larger picture is that much is awry in this process, and that is a real concern.

Thank you.

Tags: Elections, Obama Administration, Susan Rice, United Nations
Posted in Elections, United Nations | No Comments »

Gunships Can’t Save Darfur Alone

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Newly deployed M-35P in Nyala. Photo: UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran

It’s been a painfully long time coming, but last week, five Mil Mi-35P gunships settled in to their new home in Nyala, South Darfur. The Ethiopian helicopters – whitewashed for peacekeeping service – will in theory greatly enhance UNAMID’s aerial capacity. They represent a key force multiplier, essential in developing the mission’s rapid reaction capability, including emergency response and tactical intervention.

But after celebrating their long overdue arrival, the first thing on Force Commander Nyamvumba’s agenda was to ask for more. He has made it very clear that this is only one step in a series of many that UN and AU member states must take to provide his peacekeepers with the very best odds possible as they confront endless challenges in Darfur, an advantage they have not thus far enjoyed.

This means giving them the mobility and muscle needed to successfully confront hostile operating conditions, the adversities of which have been compounded by continued obstruction by both the government and rebel groups, as well as by violent attacks directly targeting the mission and its assets.

Amid reports of civilian deaths and mass displacement, recent events illustrate the complex reality of a place far from peace. The use of indiscriminate aerial bombardment by the Sudan Armed Forces against rebel positions in Jebel Moun and Jebel Mara has a disproportionately devastating effect on local populations. Rebel movements have likewise hurt Darfuri civilians by restricting both UNAMID investigations and humanitarian access. In at least one battle – which resulted in more than a dozen deaths, 31,000 displaced civilians, and serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence – highly placed military sources told me that “helicopters and aerial reconnaissance units would have helped…prevent the incident.”

In fact, over the last three months, fatal incidents have repeatedly highlighted the essential role of helicopters in life-saving medical evacuation, rapid investigations and assessment following clashes, tactical intervention and quick reaction capacity, aerial reconnaissance and monitoring, as well as troop and equipment deployment. The Mi-35P is only capable of fulfilling a small number of these tasks.

The Mi-35Ps – with their powerful 30-mm twin-barrel automatic cannons – bring exciting new strength to an operation consistently criticized for being weak and ineffective, but they are in reality only a few items on a long list of aircraft that UNAMID desperately needs to implement its protection mandate. The gunships, while important, have limited impact on the mission’s ability to negotiate Darfur’s harsh terrain, rampant banditry, and prohibitive lack of infrastructure necessary for the efficient movement of troops and equipment to the region’s hotspots. For that, UNAMID requires many more utility and transport helicopters.

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Tags: African Union, AU, Darfur, Government of Sudan, helicopter, Humanitarian Aid, Jebel Marra, Mi-24, Mi-35, Peacekeeping, Save Darfur, Sudan, UNAMID, United Nations
Posted in African Union, Peacekeeping, United Nations | 1 Comment »

Rebel Contraindication

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Former UNAMID Force Commander Meets SLA Field Commander (UN Photo/Stuart Price)

Without excuses and without exception, when humanitarian and human rights are threatened, there must be independent monitoring; when violated, there must be an investigation. This applies as much to oppressive government forces as it does to their challengers. When clashes threaten the lives and livelihoods of civilians, the rebel cause is weakened. SLA-AW, take note.

Obstructionism – sometimes enforced by hostile threats – against Darfur’s embattled peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) has become a serious problem. Despite recent advances toward full deployment, other factors have severely limited its troops from implementing their mandate to effectively protect civilians. Perhaps most troubling of these is the extent to which all key belligerent parties continue to restrict UNAMID’s monitoring patrols and access to the sites of ongoing or recently concluded clashes, most of which have resulted in the limitation of humanitarian assistance and direct abuses against local populations—including human rights violations, civilian deaths, and mass displacement.

Though this is far from an emerging problem in Darfur, it requires renewed attention and must be addressed with the rigorous application of impartial standards to all groups involved, while acknowledging responsibility is not shared equally. The reality – which varies over time depending on military and political strategy – is some are worse offenders than others. In December, we highlighted the role of the Government of Sudan (GoS) in impeding the work of UNAMID and the UN Panel of Experts. Today, we single out the SLA-AW for obstructionist actions that have complemented, rather than counteracted, GoS destabilizing activities and have further eroded civilian security while promoting impunity in Darfur.