Bashir says Sudan’s army to “liberate” rebels’ bastion in Blue Nile—Sudan Tribune

At a public rally yesterday, Sudan President Omer El-Bashir vowed that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) would “liberate” Kurmuk, the stronghold of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in the Blue Nile state. The SAF has already retaken the capital of Blue Nile state, al-Damazin. President Bashir promised that those who had committed crimes against humanity would be punished.

Gunmen abduct five internationals and four Sudanese in Darfur – UN—Sudan Tribune

A UN source said that five international and four Sudanese staff were kidnapped by armed men near Umraik village in North Darfur. Efforts are bring made to find the hostages and negotiate their release. Kidnapping of aid workers and others became a serious problem in Darfur after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir.

Minister: 1.3 million people are facing food shortages—Miraya FM

South Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ben Achan Ogwaro, says 1.3 million people are facing food shortages and that people and people in Jonglei and Upper Nile have been particularly affected.  Ogwaro says the food shortages are due to blockades at the border checkpoints, an influx of refugees, the continuing crisis in Abyei and high fuel prices.

UNMISS Chief applauds President Kiir’s anti-corruption efforts—Miraya FM

United Nations representative to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, commended South Sudan on its efforts to punish corruption and maintain transparency in government.

World is watching how South Sudan builds new nation, says UN envoy—UN News Centre

The UN special representative to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, urged South Sudan President Salva Kiir to properly investigate and prosecute those government officials accused of corruption. President Kiir has declared a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, which Hilde Johnson says is the necessary preconditions to developing South Sudan into a stable nation.

Six refugees raped in North Darfur—Radio Dabanga

According to relatives of the victims, several women had gone out to farm to collect firewood when they were attacked, raped, and then tied to trees.  The victims took their case to the commissioner of Kabkabiya who said he could not get the perpetrators because they would have already fled. In another area of Kabkbiya armed men beat four women and stole their donkey. A refugee was also kidnapped and robbed before being released several hours later.

PDF forces take over state security office—Radio Dabanga

Some 800 new recruits to the Popular Defense Forces (PDF), a Sudanese government-backed militia, raided the state security office in Ali Kilik, South Kordofan, saying that they had not received pay for four months of work. Some of the PDF soliders were ordered to participate in actions in the Nuba Mountains but refused saying they did not want to attack their neighbors. PDF soldiers have also blockaded the road used to bring oil in refusing to move until they received their pay.  Aerial bombing raids by the government continue in South Kordofan, with the latest strike occurring in Umm Durain.

JEM splinters say ready for peace deal with Khartoum—Sudan Tribune

A breakaway group from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) pledged to sign the Doha Darfur Peace Document (DDPD).  The splinter faction is led by Mohamed Bahr Ali Hamdein, who was stripped of his position by JEM leadership after they accused him of attempting a coup within the group by signing DDPD.

NISS shuts down Al-Jarida—Radio Dabanga

The National Intelligence and Security Services of Sudan raided the office of the independent newspaper Al-Jarida and then banned it. Al-Jarida had been already been suspended twice and told not to publish stories by reporters from the Ajraz Al Huriya newspaper, which has already been banned. No official reason was given for the banning of the Al-Jarida newspaper.

South Sudan among recipients of UN grants to end violence against women—UN News Centre

South Sudan received an annual grant from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The grant will go to a program that will team the American Refugee Committee with the government of South Sudan in order to develop and standardize the way rape cases are managed in a clinical setting.

An Activist On a Hunger Strike—allAfrica

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information denounced the continued detention without trial of Sudanese human rights activist Bushra Qamar Hussein. Hussein has been in the Al Cooper prison for three months and has begun a hunger strike.  Hussein has allegedly been abused while in the prison.

6 illegal checkpoints in Western Bhar-El-Ghazal State closed—Miraya FM

Akol Majok Rok, Jur River County Commissioner in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal state, has closed six illegal checkpoints in hopes that it would ease the flow of goods and keep down inflation. Six people were also arrested in the County for stealing goods at a checkpoint.

Interior Ministry to establish anti-terrorist unit—Miraya FM

Interior Minister of South Sudan, Alison Manani Magaya announced plans to create and train an anti-terrorism unit in order to counter any future terrorist threats to the nation. The Minister said that illegal immigrants in South Sudan may pose a threat to the nation’s security.

Al-Bashir vows to squash SPLM-N as Sudan’s army says ready to take rebels’ stronghold- Sudan Tribune

• Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir threatened to quell any military attacks by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) as the country’s army declared readiness to seize the SPLM-N’s main stronghold in the Blue Nile State.

Sudanese authorities close-down SPLM-North headquarters in Khartoum- Radio Miraya

• On Saturday, Sudanese authorities closed down the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – (SPLM-North) offices in Khartoum and stated they will shut down SPLM offices in other states until the party legalizes it activities and abides by the laws.

Sudan’s president declares emergency in Blue Nile, sacks governor- Sudan Tribune

• Bashir declared a state of emergency in the Blue Nile State and dismissed its Governor, Malik Agar, amid reports of aerial bombardments and attacks resulting in large scale displacement in the region.

UN agencies dispatching aid as more Sudanese refugees flee to Ethiopia- UN

• United Nations agencies are mobilizing to assist at some 20,000 people who have fled the fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile state and arrived in neighboring Ethiopia.

LJM delegation to arrive in Khartoum- Radio Dabanga

• A delegation of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), led by deputy chairperson Ahmed Abdul Shafi,  arrived in Khartoum on Tuesday to start implementation of the Doha agreement.

Govt-backed militia rapes minors in Darfur- Radio Dabanga

• Three girls in Garsila and another in Kass were gang raped by government-backed militia wearing military uniforms in two separate incidents on Sunday, sources told Radio Dabanga.

Opposition forces to demonstrate against wars in Sudan- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudanese opposition forces will organize a demonstration on Friday demanding to stop the war in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and call for an immediate investigation.

Council of Ministers to relocate capital from Juba – Miraya FM

• The Council of Ministers has decided to relocate the Capital of South Sudan from Juba to Ramciel in Lakes State.

Darfuri refugees in Libya deported to Khartoum- Radio Dabanga

• 17 Darfuri refugees were arrested along the Sudan-Libya border and deported to prisons in Khartoum, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said on Monday. Those arrested are accused of having links with JEM and supporting the Gadhafi regime in Libya

Rebels call for non-fly zone in Blue Nile, Darfur and S. Kordofan- Sudan Tribune

• Darfur rebels today urged international community to impose a no-fly zone and to establish safe corridors to provide civilians, in the Blue Nile, Darfur and South Kordofan, with humanitarian assistance. They also urged democratic forces to join them in their efforts to change Bashir’s regime.

South Sudan pledges to diversify economic sector to avoid dependency on oil- Sudan Tribune

• On Monday, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) said it would diversify the economic sector in order to move away oil dependency.

Statements on Blue Nile

Escalating Violence in Blue Nile State of Sudan Victoria Nuland- Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson- US State Department

• The US State Department announced their concern about recent fighting in Blue Nile and called on both parties to cease hostilities and for the SAF to end aerial bombings.

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the eruption of fighting in Blue Nile State (Republic of Sudan) EU

• Today, Catherine Ashton issued a statement condemning the attacks in Blue Nile and calling for both parties to stop fighting and resume negotiations

Statement by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan on the Situation in Blue Nile- UN

• The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator called on both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North to end the fighting immediately and to seek to resolve any disputes through peaceful means, to prevent more loss of life and to enable displaced people to return to their homes.

Sudan: Ban urges end to fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states- UNSG

• Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the fighting in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states and for access for humanitarian agencies to the affected areas.

20,000 refugees from Sudan’s Blue Nile State in Ethiopia, numbers rising UNHCR

• A UNHCR assessment team returned yesterday from the Assosa region of western Ethiopia, where refugees have been arriving since late last week amid fighting across the border in Sudan’s Blue Nile State. The refugee population has swollen to around 20,000 people with more continuing to arrive.

Wikileaks on Sudan

• Wikileaks: Ethiopia PM tells US that removing Bashir regime is “preferred option”
• Wikileaks: VP Taha & Gosh appear open to removing Sudan’s Bashir
• Wikileaks: Mbeki fiercely critical of Darfur mediator Bassole
• Wikileaks: Discontent with SPLM’s Kiir revealed
• Wikileaks: Janjaweed leader slams VP Taha & Nafie, blames NCP for Darfur crimes
• Wikileaks: Sudanese diplomat says country “on the wrong course”
• Wikileaks: Sudan negotiating purchase of missiles from North Korea

South Sudan militia deputy admits killing of his leader Gutluak- Sudan Tribune

• The deputy commander of the South Sudan Liberation Army has admitted to killing leader Gatluak Gai. He asserted that Gai had commanded troops to ignore the ceasefire signed with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and instead cooperate with forces from the north to attack the south.

Another Sudanese journalist jailed on rape case charges- Sudan Tribune

• Amal Habani, a female Sudanese journalist, was jailed today for writing against the alleged rape of Safia Ishaaq, a Sudanese activist, by security agents. The court sentenced Habani on charges of publishing false information and violating journalistic ethics. She chose a month in jail rather than pay the fine of 2,000 pounds (roughly 700 USD).

South Sudan accuses North of launching economic war- Sudan Tribune

• South Sudan accused the northern government of adopting economic policies aimed at crushing the southern economy, particularly the introduction of the new currency in the north.

Army attacks in North Darfur kill five civilians- Radio Dabanga

• The Sudan Liberation Movement reports that the Sudanese Armed Forces are targeting civilians in North Darfur in attacks that have been ongoing for a week, killing five civilians.

Darfur diaspora protests in USA, Europe and Egypt- Radio Dabanga

• Members of the Darfuri diaspora and activists held protests at the White House, European Union headquarters, and the Qatari Embassy in Cairo to draw attention to genocide, killing, displacement and rape in Darfur.

UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur (Photo: Albert Gonzalez Farran / UNAMID)

This week the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping sponsored a briefing about “UN Peacekeeping and US Interests”. Speakers included Victoria Holt, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs; Colonel John Agoglia, Vice President for Government Services at IDS International; and Mark Quarterman, Director of the Program on Crisis, Conflict, and Cooperation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The panelists agreed that the US has a major stake in UN peacekeeping missions in order to promote civilian protection and enhance the capacity of governments to enforce rule of law. The US provides important funding and training resources, even though it is not as involved in directly providing peacekeepers. This is why it is imperative for Congress to remember the US financial commitments to peacekeeping missions during the current 2012 budget negotiations.

Making Peacekeeping More Effective

The speakers also discussed how the US can contribute to improving the efficacy of UN peacekeeping missions. All three concurred that since the majority of peacekeepers come from developing states, additional training is one necessary strategy. Typically battalions deployed as peacekeepers are sent to training centers, many of which are operated by the US, but Col. Agoglia suggest that training would be more effective if training facilities in the donor countries were improved, that way all military personnel would benefit. He also suggested increased training for peacekeepers in human rights and participatory governance so that peacekeepers can provide support to bolstering political structures. Another strategy for increasing the success of peacekeepers is giving missions a Chapter 7 mandate, which enables them to use force for civilian protection.

Improving the conduct of peacekeepers is also necessary for protecting civilians and maintaining peace. UN peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse, and Holt said that while reported incidents have decreased in the past six months due to investigations into peacekeeper behavior and new training initiatives, the problem has not been eliminated. Increased human rights training would be one way to decrease incidents of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by peacekeepers, and she also suggested incorporating a strategy for holding peacekeepers accountable for their actions.

Peacekeeping in Sudan

Peacekeeping plays a critical role in both Sudan and South Sudan, where the UN currently has three active missions: the UN- African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA), and the new UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The UN Mission in Sudan, which until earlier this month operated in North and South Sudan, was expelled by the Government of Sudan when its mandate expired on July 9^th. Violence continues in South Kordofan, and the Sudanese government said that UN peacekeepers could be accepted in South Kordofan if local leaders sign an agreement welcoming foreign troops, however it remains to be seen if the Government of Sudan will actually follow through. The international community must push for this agreement so that peacekeepers can have access to South Kordofan to protect civilians and monitor the human rights situation.

Bosnian women mourning victims of the Srebrenica massacre.

Today marks the 16^th anniversary of the tragic Srebrenica massacre in which 8,000 Muslims were systematically killed by Serbian forces during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. Thousands of Bosnian Muslims have gathered to commemorate the anniversary and bury the remains of 613 victims who were identified after they were recently recovered from mass graves. This anniversary is a sobering reminder of the horrors of genocide, but also offers a look at the potential for international justice to hold those complicit in mass atrocities accountable.

The Srebrenica Massacre

The United Nations declared Srebrenica a “safe area” in 1993; it was to be a demilitarized zone protected by UN peacekeepers. Both sides in the conflict violated that agreement, and on July 11, 1995, Serbian forces besieged the town of Srebrenica. This attack is the only episode of the Bosnian war that international courts have definitively labeled genocide. Men and boys were murdered and their corpses were disposed of in mass graves. Women and girls were subjected to violent rape. Over 25,000 citizens, primarily women, were forcibly relocated from Srebrenica to Serbian-controlled territory.

International Justice

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established under the auspices of the United Nations in 1993 to pursue justice for war crimes that took place during the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s.

Ratko Mladic

Ratko Mladic, the Serbian general responsible for the Srebrenica massacre and other war crimes, was arrested on May 26th and transferred to the ICTY in The Hague, where he will face trial for two counts of genocide, six counts of war crimes, and seven counts of crimes against humanity. Other Serbian leaders responsible for the genocide have also been indicted and tried by the ICTY, including Radovan Karadzic and Radislav Krstic, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting genocide and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.

Also held accountable in the massacre was the Netherlands, which directed orders to the Dutch peacekeeping troops responsible for protecting the Srebrenica UN “safe area” in July 1995. The peacekeepers handed over three Bosnian men to the Serbian army and witnessed multiple incidents in which Bosnian Muslims were abused, raped, and killed by Serbian troops without intervening. In July 2011, the ICTY ruled that the Dutch state was responsible for the deaths of the three men handed over by peacekeepers.

Lessons Learned from Srebrenica

The memory of the Srebrenica atrocities resounds in current conflict zones where civilians are in danger. The ethno-political dimensions of the Balkans conflict remind us of the current political marginalization and violent targeting of certain ethnic groups in Darfur. The use of rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo is also reminiscent of the rapes that took place in Srebrenica.

But current international efforts for protecting civilians reflect some of the lessons learned in Srebrenica. In Srebrenica, NATO did not begin airstrikes until after the massacre when the worst atrocities against civilians had already taken place, despite prior requests for support. Now in Libya’s current political conflict we see NATO intervening proactively to protect civilians.

The recent ICTY ruling against the Dutch state sets an important precedent that peacekeeping troops who fail to protect civilians can and must be held accountable. UN peacekeepers in Sudan should heed this precedent as the genocide and violence against civilians there continue and they find themselves responsible for protecting civilian lives.

Aspects of current international conflicts are reminiscent of the genocide in Srebrenica, so the international community must use the lessons learned there to pursue international justice and protect civilians.

SPLM calls for international intervention over clashes in South Kordofan- Sudan Tribune

• Leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) called for international assistance in the conflict in South Kordofan, which they claim was started by the National Congress Party. The SPLM also claims the Sudanese Armed Forces are attempting to resettle the area with Arab tribes.

Sudan army says attacked by SPLA in South Kordofan- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are now claiming that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army carried out an attack in Umm Dorein and the SAF attempted to defend the town but was forced to withdraw. Yesterday the SAF downplayed the violence, claiming it was an isolated incident instigated by one soldier.

Situations Calm in Kadugli, Haroun- Sudan Vision

• The governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, affirms that the situation in Kadugli is now calm after previous incidences of violence in nearby Umm Dorein. Haroun claimed that a garrison was attacked by a police force affiliated with Wildlife Protection, resulting from an individual act perpetrated by a group opposing Wildlife Protection leadership.

UNMIS URGES THE PARTIES TO DIFFUSE TENSIONS IN ABYEI AND SOTHERN KORDOFAN STATE – UNMIS

• Concerned about the ongoing security situation in Abyei and Southern Kordofan, UNMIS has issued a press statement calling on parties to prevent any escalation of violence. UNMIS also calls on the Sudanese Armed Forces to stop all looting, release all civilians in their custody, and allow humanitarian access to Abyei.

AU Commission Chairperson visits Darfur- UNAMID

• The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission is currently leading a 9-person delegation in Darfur to enhance relations between the AU and Sudan. He met with the governor of North Darfur and discussed increasing collaboration between state authorities and UNAMID to provide humanitarian assistance.

South Sudan government meets investors in Dubai- Sudan Tribune

• A delegation of the Government of South Sudan met in Dubai with investors from the Middle East, who expressed their interest in investing in South Sudan after independence on July 9^th.

Nineteen (19) female refugees from Darfur raped in Eastern Chad- Radio Dabanga

• Nineteen women were raped and subjected to severe beatings and knife injuries by armed men near the Bergen camp for Darfur refugees in Eastern Chad; the incidents took place between May 27^th and June 3^rd. The Chadian police investigated the incidents but were unable to capture the perpetrators, and the women were taken for medical treatment.

Sudanese government endorses two more states in Darfur- Sudan Tribune

• Two days after the announcement of a referendum on the administrative status of Darfur, the Government of Sudan (GoS) endorsed a proposal that called for the creation of two new administrative areas in Darfur, raising the total number of states in Darfur to five. The first state that would be created is Bahr Al- Arab, located in southeast Darfur with Al- Deiyan as its capital. The other state is Jebel Marra in central Darfur, with Zalingei as its capital. The proposal of two new states has been criticized on the grounds that the conflict has not been resolved yet, the high cost of creating two new administrative roles, and the ‘ethnic criteria,’ of the two states with Bahr Al- Arab being created for Arab tribes in southern Darfur, and Jebel Marra for the Fur tribe. Gahzi Al- Salah Al- Deen, Bashir’s advisor on Darfur, said that the proposal was adopted because it represented the “will of the people of Darfur.” He also said that there is no conflict between this proposal and the holding of a referendum on the status of the region.

07 Mar. 11- Human Rights expert visits North Darfur- UNAMID Briefings and Statements

• The Independent Expert on the Human Rights in the Sudan, Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, arrived in El Fasher, North Darfur to examine the progress made by UNAMID and GoS in the protection and defence of human rights.The Independent Expert was briefed by senior UNAMID officials on the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur. He later met with representatives of the Abu Shouk internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp and Human Rights advocates.

Sudan Expert says Darfur referendum aims to contain rebel demands- Sudan Tribune

• Fouad Hikmat, a prominent Sudanese expert at the International Crisis Group (ICG) said that decision to hold the referendum is being driven by political interests whose aim is to circumvent demands for a potent regional authority. Hikmat said that it was is unclear if the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) that calls for the referendum is even a valid reference point for the referendum given the ongoing peace talks in Doha and the fact that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) both reject the DPA, in a joint statement released last week they said:”We reject this step, which impedes the progress of peace negotiations in Doha, and transgresses clearly what has been agreed in the framework agreements and good intentions.”

• Hikmat said that the majority opinion of Darfuri elites is that a unified Darfur would be most beneficial to the region, and that this has been one of the most contentious issues in the ongoing peace negotiations. In Hikmat’s opinion, a push for referendum in Darfur shows that the government is “very concerned about its survival” because what Darfur needs is a strong regional authority which will foster inter- Darfuri dialogue, something that could potentially become a serious threat to the survival of the government in Khartoum.

Sudanese opposition determined to stage protest on Wednesday- Sudan Tribune

• Sudanese opposition groups confirmed their plans on Wednesday despite warnings from the police that any demonstration would be illegal. The protests are planned to voice opposition to the massacres occurring in Libya, and to support the Revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. The legal affairs department of the People’s Congress party said that they notified the authorities about their decision, and that no permission was necessary, the police disagree. Hundreds of protests surrounded SPLM offices, chanting anti- government slogans. The head of the opposition alliance, Farouk Abu Essa, addressed the crowd, saying that negotiations with the NCP had reached a “dead-end,” and that the only route remaining was the removal of Bashir from office. A number of groups in Sudan have tried to use Facebook to mobilize and coordinate demonstrations in Sudan in order to remove Bashir in the same manner that the people of Egypt and Tunisia were able to remove their authoritarian leadership, but so far those attempts have failed to gain support, and the demonstrators of the previous protest on January 30^th, were quickly arrested.

Gunmen in military uniforms rape two refugee girls in Darfur- Radia Dbanga

• Gunmen dressed in military uniforms raped two girls from Hamidiya Camp for displaced people on Sunday. The camp is located outside of Zalingei town in West Darfur, the girls had gone out to gather firewood when they were attacked. One of the victims is 12 years old.

3000 Sudanese migrants escape Libya, 40 Darfuris missing in Misurata- Radio Dbanga

• In the south of Libya, more than 3000 Sudanese, mostly people from Darfur, escaped into Chad. One migrant said that there is a large crowd of Sudanese stranded trying to cross from Libya into Chad. He described the situation that the Sudanese are facing in Libya as “serious,” especially in Kofra and Sabha, unknown numbers of Sudanese have been killed and had their shops pillaged and property stolen. In Tobruk, Darfuri’s have reported being attacked because of their different skin colour.

Yesterday, a female activist and university student in Khartoum was kidnapped in front of her house and raped multiple times by the Sudanese Government’s National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) agents. She was later dumped on a road but managed to get to a hospital where she was treated for her injuries and doctors confirmed in a medical report that she has been raped. When she reported her rape to police, they rejected the medical report.

On January 30^th, hundreds of Sudanese activists and university students held demonstrations in Khartoum and several other cities in northern Sudan to protest the government’s oppressive rule and call for President Omar al-Bashir to step down. The NISS beat demonstrators with sticks and arrested over 100 protestors, many of whom were tortured. One of the women arrested during the demonstrations was sexually assaulted by NISS officials.

On February 10^th, another female activist was arrested by NISS officers and taken to their station, where she was sexually assaulted for four hours while the officers laughed at her suffering. These three incidents clearly illustrate how violence against women is repeatedly used by Sudanese government authorities.

On February 16^th, female members of the Popular Congress Party (PCP), a major Islamic opposition group led by Hassan al-Turabi, protested outside of NISS headquarters to deliver a petition calling for the release of al-Turabi and other recently arrested PCP members. According to Asmaa al-Turabi, the PCP leader’s daughter, NISS forcibly prevented them from delivering the petition and stated that she and other protestors were physically and verbally abused by NISS agents. Another PCP member, Rasha Yasin Hamid, claimed she was severely beaten and her clothes were torn by NISS members.

The Government of Sudan has used sexual and gender based violence in Darfur for years to not only physically harm women, but primarily to humiliate and assert power which damages the social fabric of their entire community. In Darfur, rape and other forms of violence against women are widespread and are used as a tool by government and janjaweed forces to terrorize communities. Victims of rape in Darfur rarely receive justice and perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence operate with impunity.

Many northerners fear that the tactics used by the government will become more common, especially since President al-Bashir announced that the government will fully implement Sharia law throughout Sudan, once South Sudan becomes independent on July 9^th. The United States and international community must condemn and pressure the Government of Sudan to end their use of violence against women and other harsh tactics against human rights activists.

Ambassador Dane Smith

In a letter to Ambassador Dane Smith, the newly appointed U.S. Senior Advisor for Darfur, Darfuri diaspora civil society leaders stated: “With the international communities’ focus on referendum for independence in South Sudan, Darfur has been largely overlooked and Omar Al-Basher’s regime has taken the opportunity to further oppress Darfuri civil society and initiate attacks against civilians.”

Today the situation in Darfur is gravely dangerous; with over 4 million people affected by war and depending completely on food aid for almost 8 years. The majority of whom have been internally displaced and remain subject to the direct attacks, abduction, arrest, rape and the deprivation of food, rape of women and girls and sadly their fate is left to be determined by the indicted genocidal criminal Al-Basher.

The escalation of attacks by the Janjaweed and the government army has been increasing since March 2010 after the renewal of fighting between the government and the Darfuri movements. The obstruction of aid assistance and the systematic targeting of the Darfur human right defenders and the civil society activists everywhere in Sudan is dramatically increasing and has brought a new dimension to the tragic situation that our people are living in.

Over the past few months in Darfur there have been several reports of violent attacks by the Government of Sudan (GoS) against the innocent civilians such as the recent attack on Khor Abeche which set off a renewal of fighting in December between the government and the Darfur rebel groups. The aerial bombing of villages by Khartoum  and fighting between the government and rebels has resulted in displacement of over 32,000 civilians in December and an estimated 300,000 in 2010 alone, most of whom are left with no access to humanitarian assistance.

Darfuri diaspora rally at the United Nations in 2009

Between October 30th and November 7th the government arrested 13 Darfur human rights activists and journalists in Khartoum and is still detaining them. I’ve heard news from Sudan that they have been tortured and continue to be denied access to meet their families and lawyers. In the beginning December, two prominent women civil society and peace activists, were arrested by the government security forces and are still in detention today. There has been news that they have been tortured and have only recently been granted access to their families and lawyers. Both women are accused of crimes against state for which the maximum sentence is death and we are extremely worried about the safety. This in addition, there are an uncounted number of IDPs, who have been held in detention for more than one year without charges.

Rape and sexual violence against women and girls is has increasing dramatically over the past several months and sexual and gender based violence has been reported in IDP camps in Darfur as well as in the refugees camps in Chad nearly every day. Even inside the capital cities of the three Darfur states, where UNAMID headquarters are based, with total impunity, as example: on Jan 3rd six women were raped in Nyala near Ottash camp and left  with no physical treatment or  psychosocial support.

Currently, the Darfuri refugees in Chad and Central African Republic are left vulnerable more than ever before after the recent withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping force, MINURCAT. The combined the lack of the capacity of the Chadian Army to protect refugees and the existing competition between the Chadian IDPs, civilians and the refugees as well as the unpredictable tension between Chadian rebels and the Chad government’s Army. Consequently, we have been troubled by the Statement made by Sudan’s Minister of Interior in a press release following his meeting with Al-Basher on January 2nd, stated that they have laid two security plans for Darfur, first to redistribute security and police forces all over Darfur, and the second to repatriate refugees from Chad, 300 families to the three Darfur states in the first quarter of 2011 from January –February. With the lack of security and the peace which remain cloudy in Darfur, any attempt for repatriation will be disastrous. Refugees should be voluntary and facilitated by the UN as usual and only when the conditions for return are created. In Central African Republic, the situation for the Darfuri refugees is worsening as reported by Radio Dabanga on January 7th that 2,800 refugees are facing acute food shortage.

The Obama Administration has promised to reward al-Basher if he allows a peaceful referendum for the South. While myself and all Darfuris are wholeheartedly supporting the referendum as a legitimate right for the South, time has not yet come for the U.S. to reward the man who has committed genocide and still oppressing and killing people to stay in power. The people of Darfur are looking to you, the American people who have been advocating for their rights for almost seven years, if you can tell your government that if Obama wants to keep this country great, he should listen to all of you who demanded justice and peace for the victims of the 21st century’s genocide in Darfur. We all should tell the Administration that premature rewards for Al-Basher shouldn’t be prioritized before achieving lasting peace and accountability for crimes committed in Darfur. Both the people of Darfur and the South have been and are victimized by the regime in Khartoum, and the U.S. has the moral responsibility to support their legitimate rights to live in peace and dignity.

As stated by my colleague Sam Bell the Executive Director of GI-Net/ Save Darfur Coalition, following the peaceful start of the vote for South referendum “the U.S. diplomacy has yielded positive results, but still there is a long way to go” so we still have to keep an eye on the historical vote for the South and the vulnerable situation in Darfur.

On December 14^th, hundreds of women gathered in Khartoum to protest the flogging of a woman by police that appeared on YouTube last week and also to deliver a petition to the Minister of Justice calling on the abolition of oppressive laws that punish women for harmless acts such as wearing pants. 46 women and 6 men were arrested during the peaceful demonstration and charged with civil disobedience. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir unapologetically supported the use of flogging in Sudan and stated that “those who say they are ashamed of this [punishment] they should wash up, pray twice and revert back to Islam.” Dr.Abdelbasit Murgany, a prominent human rights activist who had been working on rehabilitation for victims of torture, was also arrested in Khartoum on Tuesday and is still being held in an undisclosed location. Murgany is a supporter of the No to Women’s Oppression Coalition who organized the demonstration and has yet to be charged with any crime.

During the first week of December, the Government of Sudan arrested two Darfuri civil society leaders who focus on women’s issues. Fatima Mohamed Alhassan and Fatima Adam Ibrahim were charged with undermining the constitutional system and waging war against the state, charges that carry a maximum sentence of the death penalty. According to the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), the women were working on a book, which included questions on accountability and justice. ACJPS also reported that Fatima Alhassan was interrogated by National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) and may have been subject to torture, a commonly used NISS tactic.

Charges have not been brought against the eleven human rights defenders arrested between October 30^th and November 3^rd. These activists have been detained in undisclosed locations and have been unable to meet with their lawyers. There have been indications that some of the activists may have been tortured. The Government of Sudan cannot continue to hold these civilians without access to their lawyers and must either release or grant them a fair trial.

Today, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Mohammed Chande Othman, expressed his concern about the arrest and detention of the eleven human rights defenders and called on the Government to immediately release or bring them to court. Ambassador Susan Rice also made strong remarks at the Security Council briefing on Sudan and called “on the Government of Sudan to end the arrest and harassment of human rights activists and journalists, and to release those who have been imprisoned unjustly, including those jailed for exercising such basic rights as freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly”.

These are only a few examples of the continuous oppression that members of civil society face in Sudan. The arrests of human rights defenders by the Government of Sudan is incredibly significant since they are targeting the voices of civilians who attempt to spotlight the crimes still being committed in Darfur and throughout the country. Without civil society leaders there will be no sustainable peace in Darfur and if Khartoum is as serious about a peace agreement as they claim to be they must begin to work with civil society rather than intimidating and arresting them.