Daily Darfur: Darfur in "Flames"

The U.S. State Department issued a statement condemning Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government for the recent upsurge in violence in Darfur:

"The United States condemns the military activity carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in North and South Darfur since January 22, as well as the incursion by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) into Muhajaria and other areas of South Darfur, which resulted in an increase of violence over the last week. This fighting and subsequent Government of Sudan bombing campaigns have reportedly resulted in the deaths, injuries and displacements of civilians. The bombing campaigns in particular are a violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, of the Government of Sudan-initiated ceasefire, and of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Darfur. We welcome the statement by the Secretary-General condemning these hostilities. We demand that all parties to the conflict, including rebel movements, cease all violence and provocations in Darfur immediately, and commit to the peace process under the leadership of Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Yipènè Bassolé."

Analyst Alex de Waal referred to the fighting as worst the region has seen in a year, commenting, "Parts of Darfur are again in flames." According to the UN, over 9,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting in the last two weeks.

Sudan is once again accusing Chad of coming to the aid of Darfur rebel groups, claiming that Chadian forces entered western Sudan to deliver supplies to the JEM. The neighbors broke (but later restored) diplomatic relations earlier this year, after the Sudanese government accused Chad of supporting a surprise JEM attack on a suburb of Khartoum in May.

Paying the Price for the Defense of Human Rights

The Sudan Tribune reports the arrest and detention of five Darfur activists in Cairo earlier this month. Quoting the Sudan Human Rights Organization - Cairo:

The group said it "received reliable information on the arrest of 5 Darfur activists for 5 days (January 15-19) in Cairo. The arrested activists have been working for the Center of Contemporary Studies in Cairo which pursues scientific research on the crisis in Darfur."

"Regrettably, the authorities confiscated computers and research files of the Center. Disturbing news indicated that the arrested activists were further harassed and threatened with immediate deportation to Sudan, despite a dire need to continue their research contributions to the Center," said SHRO-Cairo.

Previous rights reports have alleged that Egyptian officials mistreat Sudanese refugees in the city, sometimes at the instigation

Other items of note...

Darfur refugees mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day in South Wales.

High school students in Florida are putting on a benefit concert to raise money for humanitarian efforts in Darfur.

[Photo: Refugees from war-torn Darfur Musa Khadir, Salem Edrris and Iminim Mossa Adam, who have found refuge in Newport, at the University's Holocaust Day.]