September snapshot:

• September 3- According to IDP spokesperson Hussein Abu Sharati, IDPs in Kalma say there is a lack of peacekeeper presence near the camp despite the United Nations-African Union Darfur mission’s (UNAMID) decision to deploy troops to the recently attacked Kalma camp on a permanent basis.
• September 9- After attacking Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) rebel positions in Disa and Birmaza, Sudanese government troops announced they have “retaken” those rebel strongholds in northern Darfur.
• September 10- Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement leaders accused government of attacking the Zimzam IDP camp and killing 5 IDPs. They say the government is trying to get IDPs to leave.
• September 17- Leaders from two factions of the rebel SLA group united to fight and push back government forces from the rebel’s positions in North Darfur. UNAMID peacekeepers report they were prohibited from entering the area.
• September 18- Sudanese aircraft began bombing rebel positions in Tawila, an area west of North Darfur’s capital, El-Fasher, an action banned by a 2005 Security Council resolution.
• September 24- 21 refugees are feared dead after the over-crowded boat they were traveling in across the Atbara River near the Shagarab refugee camp in eastern Sudan capsized. The refugees were attempting to bypass government road blocks posted outside the camp.
• September 23- A report released by Geneva-based NGO Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC) accuses the Sudanese government of mass executions and hundreds of needless arrests following the May 10^th rebel attack. Approximately 4,000 civilians with no rebel ties at all were randomly detained.

October 2008 projections

September 7- The World Food Programme (WFP) issued warning that if security conditions in Darfur do not improve that they will have to suspend operations.

September 22- Sudanese officials plan to lobby at the UN to try to put off the indictment of al-Bashir.

September 23- Bangladeshi police unit working with UNAMID reported that three girls from the Kalma IDP camp and one woman working for International Medical Corps were missing.

September 29- 2 people dead after UN-contracted helicopter carrying 2 tons of supplies crashed outside of the Kalma camp after taking off from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.

UN/Security Council

On September 2, 2008, the UN Special Rapporteur (Reporter) for Sudan, Sima Samar, gave her report on continued lack of justice and accountability in the country especially in Darfur. Samar recommended that the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) clearly define its stance on civilian protection. On September 11^th, the Security Council agreed to discuss the affects of violations of the arms embargo on the peacekeeping situation in Sudan at a future date and time. A week later, the head of UN peacekeeping, Alain Le Roy, said only 13,000 of the 26,000 authorized UNAMID troops would be deployed by the end of the year.

Despite the Secretary-General’s report on UNAMID on September 30, 2008, the Security Council seems to be losing its will to address the peacekeeping situations in the country. There is no apparent desire to discuss the al-Bashir indictment and little discussion is expected on Darfur in the month of October. An important issue is whether or not a political solution to the Carfur conflict would be successful, but the lack of unity among Council members is affecting the decision process. The UNMIS report is expected in the second half of October, and the mandate of Panel of Experts for the Darfur sanctions regime will be renewed for another year.

US policy

A Bureau of Public Affairs Fact Sheet released on September 11th reiterated the United States’ position on Darfur: rapid UNAMID deployment, immediate ceasefire, civilian protection, and political settlement. On September 23, President Bush urged stronger SC efforts for Darfur in his final address to the UN General Assembly. At the end of September, Tim Shortley, the senior representative for Sudan at the Department of State, declared that the US wants to increase the number of Darfur peacekeepers to 4,000 by the end of the year.

[1] http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28505

[2] http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/09/20089963246165447.html

[3] http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28580

[4] http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LH35014.htm

[5] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gKIES0X8Mt6s352XwRcaG2b-C27Q

[6] http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/UNHCR/929ec888df1c9bb0a3363d562abc125a.htm

[7] http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80533

[8] http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-7JACCA?OpenDocument

[9] http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/22/sudan.un.ap/index.html

[10] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jxSCzkZNaw-DyMWykz5hFDWCx_aQ

[11] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7622337.stm

[12] http://uspolicy.belgium.usembassy.gov/Article.asp?ID=1812FC25-7B92-4539-ADD5-D7BE3B8576BC

[13] http://uspolicy.belgium.usembassy.gov/Article.asp?ID=A5D64F58-CB34-4579-8584-1F0A9C3D2EFE

[14] http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28770

August snapshot:

• Sudan resumes diplomatic relations with Chad and re-opens embassies
• The UN reports that Sudan continues to threaten consequences for UN staff if the International Criminal Court (ICC) follows through on its indictment of Sudanese President al-Bashir.
• On a three day summit for African leaders in Turkey, Turkish president Abdullah Gul admonished President al-Bashir to effectively and responsibly end the conflict in Darfur, to which President al-Bashir responded that the genocide the ICC refers to is “non-existent.”
• On August 29, 2008, Djibril Yipènè Bassolé took up his post as the newly appointed UNAMID chief.

September 2008 projections

August 4 - Sudanese government and the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID) officials met and discussed UNAMID’s smooth deployment to Darfur.

August 5- First rotation of Russian Air Force personnel arrive in Sudan; next 40 scheduled to deploy August 8^th. 

August 6 - Sudanese Justice Minister Abdel-Basit Sabdarat announced that Sudan government appointed prosecutor to investigate human rights abuses in Darfur .

August 12- 4 Austrialian Defense Force peacekeepers are sent to Darfur to support UNAMID.

August 17 - Sudanese judge sentenced 2 Darfur rebels and six others (one was senior rebel Justice and Equality Movement member) to be hung to death for their involvement in the attack on Khartoum back in May.

August 19- According to UNAMID, 5 killed and 1500 displaced when floods ravaged IDP camp in Darfur.

August 25- Sudanese government security forces surrounded the volatile IDP camp of Kalma, of the largest in Darfur, and opened fire, demanding all of the IDPs to leave. Up 30 people were killed.

August 26- Sudanese government surrounded the Kalma camp with more troops, saying stockpiled weapons and stolen goods existed in the camp. The lack of UNAMID peacekeepers is evident in negotiations of how to stop violence.

UN/Security Council:

Sudan and the conflict in Darfur continue to demand the attention of the Security Council. As divisions regarding the ICC indictment of al-Bashir still exist among members of the Security Council, that issue must be carefully discussed. The options for September include the ongoing “wait and see” approach to the humanitarian situation, or opting for more vigorous action such as setting a timeframe for an investigation into the attack on UNAMID members back in July and getting the Sanctions Committee more involved.

[1] http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1845538320080818

[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/20/sudan

[3] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8967708.htm

[4] http://en.rian.ru/world/20080805/115741622.html

[5] http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/08/06/Khartoum_to_investigate_Darfur_crimes/UPI-12221218024337/

[6] http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/12/2332907.htm?section=world

[7] http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/08/200881714819511413.html

[8] http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27750&Cr=unamid&Cr1=

[9] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-7vSFNXGlPqe2frskyXHjcwBpBQ

[10] http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-08-26-sudan-forces-tighten-grip-on-darfur-camp

July snapshot:

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) started the process of seeking an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on July 10, 2008, for allegedly orchestrating and condoning the genocide and violence in Darfur, marking the first time that an existing head of state has been charged with war crimes.
• President al-Bashir is officially charged with genocide by the ICC in The Hague by court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on July 14^th, 2008. The UN pulled out non-essential staff the following day due to increased protests in light of al-Bashir’s indictment.
• Moreno-Ocampo announced on July 17^th that despite the backlash, he will proceed with the charges against al-Bashir.
• On July 18, newly-indicted President al-Bashir agreed to resume diplomatic relations with Chad.
• On July 20, the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada talked with new UN-AU Chief Mediator for Darfur, Djibril Yipènè Bassolé about bringing UNAMID to full deployment more quickly.
• A July 30^th report released by the Darfur Consortium, a group of 50 African and international human rights and civil society organizations, states that peacekeepers lack support to protect civilians and international community needs to step up efforts to flesh out and support troops.

July Security Council Update

August projections

July 7- Rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) called for peace talks with Sudan’s government or else attacks against the government will continue.

July 8- Seven UN-AU taskforce members (including 4 Rwandan peacekeepers, 1 Ugandan police officer and one officer from Ghana) were killed in an ambush while patrolling in northern Darfur. 22 people were injured, and the perpetrators of the attack are unknown.

July 13- According to a BBC report, China is giving military aide to the Sudanese government in Darfur. This was evidenced by trucks that were found to be exported from China to Sudan in 2005. The report asserted the Chinese were training fighter pilots who currently fly Chinese A5 Fantan planes in Darfur. This activity is not in keeping with UN arms embargo in Darfur.

July 15- President al-Bashir’s senior advisor, Ghazi Salaheddin, reports that Sudan will do all it can to block the ICC indictment against the president.

July 16- A UN peacekeeper was shot in Forobaranga in West Darfur while patrolling.

July 21- AU Peace and Security Council asked the UN Security Council to suspend war-crimes charges against President al-Bashir in the name of the peacebuilding situation in the country.

July 23- President al-Bashir spoke in Darfur 's capital of El Fasher and tried to discount the ICC indictment by telling supporters that the indictment was trying to “foil” his attempts to help bring peace to the region.

July 25- Sudan issues threat to kick out Darfur peacekeepers if al-Bashir indicted by ICC.

July 28- The Sudanese government is considering handing over Ahmad Harun, the former interior minister, and Ali Kushayb, a militia leader (both charged with crimes against humanity) in the hopes that the UN will then suspend al-Bashir charge

July 29- Sudan condemned 8 JEM rebels in move to prosecute captured perpetrators of May attack on Khartoum.

July 30- National army troops pull out of Abyei. Residents are still unsure of the situation and are hesitant about returning.

UN/Security Council:

The biggest issue facing the Security Council is the issue of the ICC indictment of President al-Bashir. Some members agree with the Sudanese government, others do not think the Security Council should interfere with the ICC proceedings. There is also a disagreement as to whether or not the renewal of UNAMID at the end of July and the ICC issue should be linked. The quarterly UNMIS report is expected in August, but any formal action in regads to Sudan or Darfur (like encouraging a genuine ceasefire) is unclear. 

[1] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/30/content_8858435.htm

[2] http://allafrica.com/stories/200807220665.html

[3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/10/AR2008071003109.html

[4] http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/07/14/bashir-icc-charges.html

[5] http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-07-17-icc-wont-back-down-on-albashir-arrest

[6] http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-18-voa11.cfm

[7] http://www.voanews.com/english/africa/darfur-rebels-threaten-new-action-against-sudan-government.cfm?rss=africa

[8] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7497708.stm

[9] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7503428.stm; http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iisYinfayjy9faoUvFtzKEe_wLkQ

[10] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7507641.stm

[11] http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080716/wl_afp/warcrimessudanconflictdarfuricc_080716173849;_ylt=AlRL8ym8h7reuw0T6qlEJQCQOrgF

[12] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7517393.stm

[13] http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_re_mi_ea/sudan_darfur

[14] http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080725/wl_afp/warcrimessudanconflictdarfurun_080725164622;_ylt=AmW9dreERq1lxY3GisofysyQOrgF

[15] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/world/africa/28sudan.html?ref=world

[16] http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN945287.html

June snapshot:

• Ongoing need for more decisive action and competent peace building
• Approximately 150,000 civilians have been forced to flee and become displaced since the beginning of 2008 
• Peacebuilding process in Sudan experienced various setbacks and continues to be affected by the ensuing violence
• Reignited disagreements over ownership of crude oil in Abeyi (the town marking the border between the North and South) came to a head. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 gave displaced peoples (IDPs) from the south permission to return to Abeyi, but because President al Bashir refused to acknowledge the official border delineations, the area has been torched in boundary disputes and there is nothing to return to. In 2011, Abeyi residents will have to choose to live either in North Sudan or South Sudan.

Security Council Update Sudan/Darfur- June 2008

July 2008 Projections

Mid-June- The British human rights group Waging War reported that thousands of Darfurian refugee children were being sold to militias.

             -European Union (EU) put pressure on Sudan to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in regards to prosecuting war-crimes and threatened sanctions if Sudan refused.

June 19- A United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) staff member was abducted and assaulted by members of an Arab militia, but was later released.

June 24- UN report map shows that attacks and hijackings in Sudan in the last 6 months are equal to the number of incidents of the entire last year South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was supposed to address the delay in the deployment of UN peacekeepers, postponed his trip to Sudan citing unrest and lack of security.   

US action:

Though accused of apathy, the US was apparently trying to engage in talks with Khartoum throughout the month of June, only to have the head of US embassy in Khartoum announce at the end of the month that it is “too early” to speculate on future talks between the US and Sudan.

UN/Security Council:

Following the termination of diplomatic ties between Sudan and Chad in early May, the Security Council held talks in Khartoum with Sudanese President Omar al Bashir as part of its June visit to Africa. On June 6^th, members discussed North-South peace processes with the President and Sudan’s non-compliance with the International Criminal Court. The UN’s discussions on Sudan focused primarily on the issue of UNAMID deployment and a regional, integrated approach to the conflict. UNAMID was revealed to have shortfalls in resources and lack of strategy (a deployment rate of 80% is hoped to be reached by late 2008). Despite the Security Council’s landmark trip to Africa and visit to Sudan, Save Darfur and the ENOUGH Project accused the Council of not being proactive enough in handling the genocide in Darfur.

The Security Council has admitted that their low-key approach to the Chad-Sudan conflict is not working and that updated measures must be put in place, but unity in collective goals will be the primary issue facing the Council in July. In addition, since UNAMID’s mandate expires at the end of July, discussions regarding renewing the mandate and the conflicts between North and South Sudan will occur.

Sources:

[1] http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/site/c.glKWLeMTIsG/b.4146995

[2] http://www.mg.co.za/

[3] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/06/suden.humanrights

[4] http://allafrica.com/stories/200806240954.html

[5] http://allafrica.com/stories/200806241051.html

[6] http://www.voanews.com/english/africa/2008-06-10-voa27.cfm?rss=africa

[7] http://www.sudanesetribune.com/spip.php?article27629