Category: Blog

Yet Another Week of Devastating Violence in Darfur

The past 10 days have seen yet another slew of violent assaults on civilians in Darfur, with displaced people and recent returnees remaining especially vulnerable. Sexual violence, especially directed towards women, remains a constant problem. In Deleig, Central Darfur, a woman was murdered while struggling against an attempted rape. This is a common occurrence, and gruesomely similar to other cases reported by Radio Dabanga throughout the length of the Genocide in Darfur. Several such cases have been reported in recent weeks.

Farmers remain at risk of death and injury from marauding herders and the state structure which arms and advantages them. A 13-year old displaced girl was shot by herders in Nierteti, Central Darfur early in the week. In Mershing, Southern Darfur, herders (armed Arabs militia) held several displaced people hostages, beating them and extorting money for the release of their possessions. In North Darfur, near the Dar El Salam area, two farmers were savagely beaten by herders when the farmers refused to allow herds of cattle to trample their sown land.

Government propaganda presents these as isolated incidents of banditry and low scale ethnic conflict. This is a smoke screen. Attacks reported as conducted by “herders” or “gunmen” are in truth perpetrated by current and former Janjaweed fighters, armed and supported by the central government. Government forces work closely with “unofficial” militias, and continuously and systemically fail to prosecute acts of violence perpetrated by herders against farmers. The government’s main militia, the Rapid Support Forces, continues to terrorize civilians throughout Darfur, despite renewed requests for international legitimacy by RSF leadership. At ZamZam camp, near the North Darfur capital of El Fasher, RSF in land cruisers seized roughly 15 displaced people at gunpoint, beating and robbing them. The similarity between this “official” act by the RSF and the above-mentioned extortion by “herders” is no coincidence. These are not random acts of criminality, nor are the spontaneous eruptions of ethnic conflict. This is a coordinated campaign orchestrated by the government in Khartoum to terrorize and disadvantage the indigenous African civilian population of Darfur. In a separate incident near Tur, Central Darfur, uniformed soldiers fired on two people and seriously wounded them. Two more farmers were shot at, wounded, and ultimately kidnapped by militiamen in Gobo, South Darfur.

Arrests by military intelligence agents have remained high this week. In Tur, three displaced people were arrested by Military Intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location, where they have not been heard from since. The same happened to a resident of Kass, South Darfur, whose status also remains unclear. Those arrested are almost certainly subject to torture, and likely face death or long imprisonment without due process. Many who go into Military Intelligence prisons are never heard from again. Students were also targeted for arrest this week, as Radio Dabanga reports that several dozen students were arrested at El Geneina University in two separate waves this week.

None of this is new. Reports of rapes, murders, beatings, robberies, and detentions perpetrated by Government forces have continued unabated for the past 15 years. Pick any week at random since 2003 and you will find similar levels of violence targeted against civilians, and this is only what is reported. The International Community must hold the al-Bashir regime accountable for its crimes in Darfur. As the Government of Sudan continues to make inroads towards legitimacy in the eyes of the International Community, as decades old sanctions regimes come undone and Sudanese military commanders with hands soaked in the blood of millions parade shamelessly in diplomatic circles in Washington, we must take note of what Khartoum continues to do in Darfur and across Sudan. The people of Darfur are still dying. We cannot abandon them now.

With the UN general assembly taking place now, we must speak up and hold our leaders accountable. We must demand that our leaders uphold their commitment to international law, law which continues to be violated and undermined by the government of Sudan every day.

 

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Weekly Update 9_27

Civilians in Darfur Remain Under Attack

This past week saw four major attacks reported in Darfur, with additional state violence throughout the entirety of Sudan. Violence in Darfur alone led to four deaths, five cases of severe injuries, and the rape of two underage girls.

In one particularly gruesome incident, three herders assaulted and raped two girls – aged 15 and 17 – as the girls were tilling their farm in El Fasher locality. The girls were held at gunpoint and raped for three hours. These girls were severely brutalized, and had to be transferred from the Tabit health center to a hospital in El Fasher 30 miles away, where they were last recorded in critical condition.

This attack was not an isolated incident, nor was it unique in its particular brutality. Women and girls are routinely targeted for vicious, hours long rapes successively perpetrated by multiple men. Displaced people who venture outside of the camps are particularly at risk, and there is a growing trend of violence against those who return from the camps to their original homes.

A similar incident was only narrowly prevented by an heroic schoolteacher earlier this week in Mershing locality, South Darfur. Radio Dabanga reports: “Three [gunmen] wanted to rape a number of young women who were working on the farm …  When the women called for help, teacher Mohamed El Zein rushed to save them. The attackers immediately killed him with three shots.” A teacher, trained and dedicated to educating children, had his life taken away from him as he protected children from rape by armed militants. This is the Darfur al-Bashir wants the displaced to return to.

The constant danger experienced by farmers in Darfur, especially displaced farmers returning to their land after years in IDP camps, was made clear in the North Darfur locality of Tawilla, where a group of a dozen or so herders attempted to assault farmers at work. Attacks like these are commonplace in Darfur, and becoming increasingly frequent as the al-Bashir regime pushes its campaign of resettlement, forcing displaced persons into areas which continue to be extremely violent.

The danger of the continued presence of government armed forces in Darfur was made equally clear by an event in Kutum, North Darfur, on Friday of last week. A personal confrontation between Rapid Support Forces militiamen and an individual Army officer led to gunshots, with two children, two women and a man caught in the crossfire. Not only do the people of Darfur need to fear rape, murder, and maiming at the hands of government forces intentionally targeting them, they live in an environment where the mere presence of government forces is a constant risk of everyday interactions escalation into violence and death. This is the Darfur al-Bashir was the displaced to return to.

The international community must hold the government of Sudan accountable for the continued violence in Darfur. While, the al-Bashir regime continues to push its rhetoric that peace has come to Darfur and that displaced people are voluntarily returning to their original homes as a result, this is not an accurate reflection of reality. The international community must take special care to monitor conditions on the ground – and international civil society must aid in this mission – and must check the rhetoric of the Sudanese government against these realities.

Civilians Remain Under Attack in Darfur

The Dangerous News of Russian Troops Present in South Darfur

On Tuesday morning, Radio Dabanga reported that Russian troops have been spotted in Um Dafug locality, South Darfur state. This report noted 500 Russian troops and 50 vehicles, as well as other military equipment stationed in the area. Additionally, the Russian troops were reported to have completed construction of an area for landing helicopters. We a received this report with great concern. DWAG writes to raise the alarm about the danger and the implication of Russian troops establishing a military base in Darfur and what that means to the people of Darfur. If it is allowed, it will be another phase of the Darfur genocide that the international community — including the United states — must avert.

 

500 Russian Troops

There is no current international force capable of monitoring Russian activity in South Darfur. The international peacekeeping force in Darfur, UNAMID, is decreasing its presence significantly. This is part of a trend of decline which Russia, as a political ally of the al-Bashir regime, has pushed throughout the history of UNAMID. In July this year, the UN Security Council cut the mandated maximum authorized size of UNAMID forces from 13,763 to 4,050. This follows a trend of general sizing down of UNAMID, as seen on the chart below. The UN Deputy Under-Secretary General for Field Support declared this week that UNAMID intends to be entirely out of Darfur by 2020, though they are poised to return at any time should they be needed.Putting Russian troops on the border between Sudan and CAR has been discussed for several months. Both the United States and France expressed displeasure at this idea. Western powers do not want a heavy Russian presence in the Central Africa Republic, where Russia is taking a lead in supporting the government with arms sales and technical military training. There are reports that the Russian private military contractor company Wagner is operating in CAR. Wagner has previously deployed Russian private military contractors in Syria and Eastern Ukraine.

 

image (9)

 

 

The closest UNAMID force to Um Dafug is one Pakistani Infantry Company in Buram, roughly 75 miles to the North-West. Next is one Egyptian Infantry Company in Graida, over 100 miles North-West, and two Ethiopian Infantry Companies in Mukhjar roughly 150 miles to the North. The point is, UNAMID fundamentally does not have the capacity to effectively monitor what Russian troops are doing in South Darfur. Even if they did have this capacity, UNAMID has proven useless in protecting the people of Darfur from Government militia attacks, let alone Russian troops.

In addition to Russian diplomacy supporting the al-Bashir regime at the UN, Russia has also had a significant military role in the government’s campaign in Darfur. This is because Russia is heavily responsible for arming the government of Sudan throughout the genocide in Darfur. Since the genocide began in 2003, Russia has delivered to Sudan[1]:

  • 12 Ground Attack Fighter Aircraft
  • 36 Combat Helicopters
  • 60 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
  • 37 Military Logistics transport helicopters
  • 60 Diesel Engines for Tanks
  • 100 anti-Tank missiles

 

These weapons constitute 47% of the arms imports to Sudan throughout the period 2003-2017, according to SIPRI estimates. These sales were also in violation of international law. The UN placed an arms embargo on Darfur in 2005, though sales of arms to Sudan were legal so long as the weapons did not end up in Darfur. Amnesty International reported in 2012 that there were credible reports Russian weapons were being used in Darfur. The government of Sudan method of attack often involves indiscriminately shelling villages, killing civilians and forcing many into displacement.

Darfur need peace and accountability, not Russian troops putting the weight of Russian military might behind a genocidal Sudanese regime. This report is extremely alarming and must be immediately addressed. We call on the United States and the member states of the UNSC to publicly denounce Russian troops present in Darfur and demand that Russian must withdraw its troops from Darfur.

[1][1] SIPRI

Sudanese Government’s “Ceasefire” is Fundamentally Meaningless

Sudan Tribune reported last week that Sudanese President Al-Bashir has extended the government’s “unilateral ceasefire,” covering the Darfur region and various other areas of Sudan. This would be important news, if there was even a grain of truth to it.

 

This “ceasefire” was declared in 2016, and has had no discernible impact on actual government military behavior as government forces continue to carry out attacks against civilians. This year alone, uniformed government forces – including RSF – fought pitched battles with Rebel groups on 55 occasions.[1] The bulk of these attacks occurred in the Jebel Marra region at the center of Darfur, long a rebel-controlled area, during a government campaign to penetrate the region and root out rebel positions. This offensive has destroyed civilian villages, killed women and children, and led to the displacement of between thirty and fifty thousand people.[2] A frequent phrase in Radio Dabanga reports throughout the past several months has been “government forces shelled ___ village.” Despite the positive press image as portrayed by Khartoum, the regime continues to launch offensive military campaigns against the indigenous groups in Darfur.

Government and Rebel Battles

Map: Battles between Government and Rebel Forces in 2018

The ceasefire, called “unilateral” throughout the media despite depending on an agreement between multiple parties, is only between the government of Sudan and several rebel groups. These include the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and SLM- Transitional Council (SLM-TC), the last of which is defunct and currently controls neither military forces nor territory. The Government of Sudan therefore does not have an agreement with the remaining SLM-AW, led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur. The fact that only a single rebel group remains fighting against the government does not mean a decrease in violence. In fact, there have been 190% more recorded firefights between government and rebel forces in the first seven months of this year compared to the total number of attacks in the entirety of 2017. It must be made clear where lies the responsibility for this escalation of violence: government policy. Rebel groups have made no attempt to break out from their base in Jebel Marra. Rather, government forces converged on the region in spring of this year, and renewed their assault on rebel positions, firing rockets and artillery indiscriminately into villages.

 

image (4)

 

Not only do government forces continue to assault rebel positions, they also continue to perpetrate mass violence against the civilians of Darfur, again despite government claims to the international community about a “ceasefire.” Independent observers recorded 68 incidents of violence against civilians perpetrated by uniformed government forces so far in 2018.[3] Like the fighting between government and rebel forces, government attacks on civilians increased dramatically in 2011 following a renewed government offensive in Darfur, which is still ongoing. The level of violence against civilians in Darfur in 2018 is again above the average level during the pre-2011 period. This fact is fundamentally inconsistent with the notion that peace has been achieved in Darfur, and fundamentally inconsistent with the notion that a “ceasefire” has really been placed into effect. Certain weak rebel groups may have temporarily stopped fighting, but that does not mean government firing has ceased in Darfur.

 

image (5)

 

All of the above analysis demonstrates that the current level of fighting in Darfur today is actually historically high. The government launched a major offensive in Darfur in 2011, and violence continues at a level above the average before this offensive. What we see is clear indication of an ongoing, indeed escalating, government offensive in Darfur. This is not a ceasefire.

 

Because the wording of United States Executive Order 13067[4] specifically mentions a decline in “offensive military activity” on the part of the government of Sudan, because this then became a key metric of the “Five Track”[5] approach of the United States towards Sudan, and to create talking points for supporters of the Khartoum regime throughout the international community, it is important for Bashir to publicly commit to peace. It is desperately important to understand that this lip service has absolutely no substance. Bashir is not committed to peace, and any “ceasefire” proclaimed by the government is meaningless until the government actually decides to cease firing their weapons, especially when these weapons are often directed against civilians.

 

The United States is obligated by its own five-track policy to undertake practical step to assess the situation on the ground in Darfur. The United States cannot take the rhetoric of Khartoum at face value, nor can it be allowed to promote its own rhetoric of sustained peace in Darfur without any verification, especially when the facts on the ground so clearly indicate that peace has not been achieved. The Government of Sudan is desperate for international engagement and normalization of relations with the United States. They must not be allowed to achieve these goals without actually committing to peace in Darfur.

 

Peace in Darfur will not be achieved through rhetorical declarations, but rather through realistic measures to monitor and ensure it. DWAG believes that only the disarmament of the government’s notorious Rapid Support Forces and other Janjaweed militias, realistic accountability for the crimes committed by government officials, and a genuine peace process can put an end to the crises in Darfur.

[1] ACLED

[2] Radio Dabanga reports 50,000. The Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court reported 30,000 in her appearance before the UN Security Council in June.

[3] ACLED

[4] Signed by President Obama in January of 2016, this order began the process by which President Trump removed economic sanctions against Sudan in November of 2017.

High Level Polish-Sudan Diplomacy is an Affront to Justice

Sudan Tribune reported earlier this week that the foreign ministers of Poland and Sudan met in Khartoum on July 21st, to discuss a number of issues of common concern to both countries. Following their meeting, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz made a statement regarding Poland desire for closer relations with Sudan. This is an incredibly worrying development.

Poland has historically been a strong advocate for the people of Darfur, who have long suffered from government violence and genocide. This was true a month ago, when the Polish delegation to the United Nations made a very strong statement at the UN Security Council meeting on June 20th, 2018. Poland noted concern for an uptick in violence in Jebel Marra, stressed that return of IDPs to their homes must be truly safe and voluntarily, demanded protection for women and girls from sexual violence, and called for any reduction of UNAMID personnel to be compensated for with an increase in UN country team presence. Additionally, Poland stressed full support for the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in her investigation into crimes committed in Darfur and the need to hold the powerful accountable for their actions. This is all incredibly powerful speech.

However, actions speak louder than words. The Sudanese government is on the ropes, as it faces the possibility of the outbreak of famine and severe domestic unrest among its traditional power base. Khartoum is desperate for international legitimacy and access to international markets. This could be a turning point in Sudanese politics, but if Poland and other states like it – especially those states bound by the Rome Statute – give the Khartoum regime life support at this critical time, the consequences for the people of Darfur will be dire. Poland must not extend economic ties to Sudan, and must live up to its own words at the United Nations and hold President al-Bashir and his government accountable for their many crimes.

That Poland continue to demand justice for the people of Darfur and accountability for the leaders of the Sudanese government is especially important given Poland’s position within the international community. Poland is a state signatory of the 2002 Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court. This Court filed arrest warrants against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010, for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of genocide. Poland is also currently serving a term as a member of the United Nations Security Council. Poland must use this position of great power to protect the vulnerable people of Darfur, and demand justice for the atrocities committed by the current Sudanese government.

More worrying than just that the Polish Foreign Minister chose to visit Sudan, is who he chose to meet while there. Sudan Tribune reported that Minister Czaputowicz met with Sudanese Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh, who was Minister of Defense from 2000 to 2005, the period of the start of the genocide in Darfur. After participating in the 1989 coup which brought President al-Bashir to power, Saleh held other important positions within the Sudanese government including head of the National Security Service and Minister of the Interior, and he has been rumored to be a possible successor to al-Bashir. In a regime tainted by genocide to its very core, a man this powerful has blood on his hands. That Poland would grant this man legitimacy in the form of a one-on-one meeting with its Foreign Minister is deeply disturbing, and completely violates any notion that Poland truly seeks to hold this regime accountable.

Unfortunately, this meeting follows a dangerous trend in the international response to Sudan. The United States removed economic sanctions against Sudan in November of 2017, despite clear evidence that Sudan had not actually met the qualifications for sanction removal. Similarly, the European Union signed a deal with Sudan regarding illegal migration in 2015.

The responsible states of the world have an obligation not to support the current Sudanese regime. But not only should these states not deal with the Khartoum government in the first place, they should also recognize that this same government has been dealing in bad faith since its very inception, and that this pattern has not changed in recent years.

While Khartoum pays lip service to containing illegal migration (and the European Union pays cash for this lip service), officials as high up in government as President al-Bashir’s very own brother have been making money hand over foot operating the very human smuggling rings which the Sudanese government claims to be containing. Following an in-depth investigation, Refugees Deeply reported that the President’s brother has been operating a service selling Sudanese passports to wealthy Syrians. These Syrians can then fly to Europe as Sudanese citizens, destroy their Sudanese passports, and apply for asylum as Syrian citizens. Refugees Deeply also reported that Sudanese police, all the way up to high-ranking generals in the Armed Forces, are inextricably linked with the human smuggling routes from East Africa through Sudan into Egypt and Libya. You can read our summary of these investigations here. When Sudan does in fact stop migrants from crossing the borders of Sudan, they employ the brutal Rapid Support Forces, formed from the infamous Janjaweed of the early 2000s, and responsible for mass atrocities throughout Darfur.

The Sudanese regime is equally hypocritical in regard to “conflict resolution,”. The government constantly references their “unilateral ceasefire” in Darfur, however this agreement is neither unilateral nor a ceasefire. A select group of rebel forces, weakened by combat to the point that they no longer control fighting men or territory, have agreed with the government of Sudan to stop fighting. However, the government of Sudan continues to pursue an aggressive offensive against the remaining rebel group, Sudan Liberation Movement/Army – Abdul Wahed (SLM/A-AW). The recent government campaign in the Jebel Marra region, attacking rebel positions in a territory controlled by this group for years, has led to a marked uptick in civilian casualties as well as the displacement of between thirty and fifty thousand people. Despite a lack of media coverage, and despite the claims made by Khartoum propagandists, the government war against the people of Darfur continues unabated.

The Polish Foreign Ministry released a tweet relating to this meeting, stressing concern for human rights and cooperation with international organizations on the part of the government of Sudan. We certainly hope that the Polish government uses this opportunity to press Sudan to be sincere about its professed desire to see peace in Darfur, and for genuine compliance with international norms, laws, and organizations by the Sudanese government. However, it seems that the Polish government is more interested in pursuing economic ties with Sudan than actually holding this regime accountable for any of the promises it makes on these non-economic fronts. The two ministers discussed a Polish-Sudanese economic forum to be held, as well as ways to cement ties between the two nations’ agrobusiness industries and improve trade between them. This follows a similar meeting last year in August on this same topic.

Poland, with its own history of liberation from authoritarian oppression and atrocity, can be a leader of the international community. We urge that Poland continue to advocate for the people of Darfur long oppressed and victimized by their government in Khartoum, and truly back up Polish words with strong actions.

A Teach Tortured in Darfur for Speaking Out Against Government Abuse

The Sudanese Government has detained a prominent human rights advocate from Darfur. Matar Younis, a teacher, and Islamic religious leader is facing the death penalty or potentially life in prison because he courageously asking the Sudanese Government to change its policies in Darfur. Younis has been consistently harassed and harmed at the hands of President Omar al-Bashir’s regime for speaking out in defense of the rights of Darfuris.

Amnesty International, a non-governmental organization that advocates for human rights worldwide, has covered Younis’ case, bringing it to the forefront. Younis was violently assaulted by Sudanese security forces in February 2018, detained in April and has since been relocated to from Darfur to the capital of Sudan, Khartoum.

Younis has been charged with “waging war against the state”, “undermining the constitutional system” and even espionage, according to Amnesty. Tragically, the report reveals that Younis is visually impaired. It is hard to image the nightmare that this human rights activist is currently enduring.

According to press releases, the State Security Prosecution has postponed Younis’ trial, which was planned for earlier this month. As of right now, there is no date set for this trial, leaving Younis to remain in prison for an indefinite amount of time. While in prison, Younis is without any resources or access to assistance. Amnesty has also noted that Younis has been denied access to legal representation and is not able to see his family members.

 

Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa has described Younis as one of the “few voices” championing human rights in Darfur. He spoke of Younis’ fearless actions and has asked the Sudanese Government to “change its harmful policies and protect the displaced people of Darfur. He should not be criminalized for stand up for human rights.”

Younis was arrested along with Ahmed Haroun, a Darfuri shop owner who was also sent to Khartoum in December 2017.

The human rights of Darfuris have been consistently under attack for years. The Government of Sudan must be held accountable by the international community, including the United States Government for its continued abuse and denial for basic human rights and freedoms.

For years human rights in Darfur has been under attack. The government of Sudan must be held accountable by the entire International Community, including the United States government, for its continued abuse and denial of basic human rights and freedoms.

DWAG Response to Darfur Highway Construction

On July 11, 2018, Radio Dabanga reported: “Sudan’s National Roads and Bridges Corporation and El Juneid Company have signed a contract for the construction of the Nierteti-Rokoro-Tarny-Tabit road in Darfur, with a length of 90 km, to be implemented within a period not exceeding 30 months.”

DWAG certainly recognizes the need for infrastructure improvements in Darfur. However, when the overwhelming majority of Darfuris are in displacement camps and still fighting for bare survival, priority must be given to security and well-being of the people if the government is sincere in its stated desire to bring peace and development to Darfur. Observers of Sudan and Darfur should not lose sight of the real issue, and we must see this government ploy for what it really is: an attempt by the government to distract from its genocidal military campaign in Darfur and seize some international good press.

The al-Bashir regime has gone to great lengths to promote the notion that genocide in Darfur is over, and that Darfur is now a post-conflict zone in need of development. This is a fabrication and a smoke-screen. ACLED reports that there have been 215 violent incidents in Darfur in the first six months of this year alone. Uniformed government forces and militias continue to ravage the population of Darfur, including during a recent and ongoing military campaign in the Jebel Marra region which has displaced over 30,000 civilians.

The map below shows the route of the planned highway in blue, and the sites of all recorded incidents of violence against civilians perpetrated by government forces and militias, reported by ACLED within the first six months of 2018. The proposed highway cuts straight through the Jebel Marra region, which can be clearly seen as the center of the largest cluster of incidents of violence against civilians. The international PR campaign intentions are clear: the government of Sudan wants to be seen as helping the people of Jebel Marra. If the government really wanted to help, it would end the campaign of violence against civilians which is currently ongoing.

Proposed Highway

Map 1: Proposed Highway and Violence Against Civilians in 2018

 

The announcement of this highway project comes at the same time as Bashir’s continued attempts to close IDP camps throughout Darfur and to bring Darfuri refugees back to Sudan from Chad. Again, we must not attribute the motivations for these projects as the Sudanese government sign of change of heart but as part of a tactic the regime has long used to divert attention from the long suffering of the people of Darfur. This is a show for the international community, as the Sudanese regime desperately needs legitimacy in order to rescind decades-old sanctions which have crippled the Sudanese economy. Bashir has a long history of willingness to talk the talk. He has never been willing to walk the walk of real peace and prosperity for the people of Darfur, and this road is no exception.