Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Darfur is finally witnessing a change of events. The government in Khartoum and major guerrilla group in the region of western Sudan, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), signed an accord that should be a step on the way to a definitive peace agreement. The event took place today, February 17, in Doha (the capital of Qatar).
The two sides, however have not agreed yet on a date for ceasefire in the entire area. The accord does call for an end to the attacks on refugee camps, which are home to over 2 million people, and for the exchange of prisoners.
This first step comes after a week of negotiation talks held in Qatar, by the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League.
The accord also calls for a peace conference to be held with all the groups active in the region.
According to the observers in international affairs, however, we must be prudent before jumping to the conclusion that the conflict in Darfur is on its way to a resolution. In fact,the JEM – which conducted a fierce raid on the city of Omdurman, twin city of Sudan capital Khartoum (see Fides 12/5/2008) – although it is important, does not represent the entire area of armed groups active in the region. In 2003, considered the official date for the outbreak of the war in Darfur, there were only two movements that had taken up arms against the government in Khartoum, to claim rights for the local population, which had been too-long ignored by authorities in the central government. They were the JEM and the SLA (Sudan Liberation Army). Since 2003, various new movements have sprung up, often a split from a previously existing group.
Thus, these other groups will also have to become involved, as in the meantime a “war within a war” has developed, and they now fight amongst themselves. Recently, a split-off from the SLA, led by Minni Minnawi, which was until now the only group who had signed a peace accord in 2006 with Khartoum, has been fighting with the JEM for control of the city of Mouharijiya (see Fides 22/1/2009).
In the meantime, there is also the possibility of the International Crime Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for President Omar Bashir in the weeks to come. The Sudanese leader is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, where the civil war has killed 300,000 people and left 2,700,000 refugees. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 17/2/2009)
