Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides)- Tensions is rising again in the western Sudan region of Darfur, suffering from a violent civil conflict between local armed groups and pro-government militia, after rebels attacked again despite many attempts to mediate and a partial agreement reached in May. Militia of the Justice Equality Movement JEM attacked the small town of Hamrat al-Sheikh, some 200km from the capital, breaking the treaty with Khartoum signed on 5 May thanks to the intervention of African Union mediators. At that time JEM, unlike the other rebel group in Darfur, Sudan Liberation Army, rejected certain clauses of the draft peace agreement with the central government.
When the rebellion started in 2003, there were two rebel groups in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice Equality Movement JEM. JEM and a large part of SLA refused to sign the 5 May agreement: since then there have been various negotiations until these latest attacks which see the two groups united.
Last week these groups formed a Front for National Redemption and were joined by a small political party, Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance. Observers agree that many military commanders and their men have joined the dissidents who have popular support. "Please God we will soon take the road for Khartoum", said Adam Ali Shogar, a leading member of the Sudan Liberation Army.
The crisis in Darfur started in February 2003, when two groups for self-defence formed by the sedentary blacks in Darfur (JEM and SLA) rebelled against the Sudanese government of Khartoum accusing it of neglecting the region and supporting Arab raiders (the infamous Janjaweed) considered mainly responsible for violence in which tens of thousands have died and 1.4 million have fled to Chad.
At the same time ever more concerning is the situation in neighbouring Chad and Central African Republic. In a statement to the nation, Central African president François Bozizé said the north of the country “is practically under occupation. For a long time our country has been repeatedly attacked by bloodthirsty criminal individuals who give no name but are obviously supported by foreign powers”.
In recent clashes in Gordil, over 800km north east of Bangui, capital of Central Africa, not far from the border with Chad, about 40 people were killed, 30 Chad rebels and about 10 Central African army and CEMAC troops (see Fides 30 June 2006).
In Chad, the army of the President Deby announced it thwarted an attack by “mercenaries” led by Dr Hassan Saleh al Djinedi, vice president of the Chad rebel group United Front for Change (FUC) which has bases in Darfur. Both Chad and the Central African Republic accuse Sudan of backing rebel groups fighting the respective governments. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/7/2006 righe 43 parole 522)
