Daily Darfur: Put Down Your Stupid Guns, Already.

by Michelle . · 2009-05-01 04:09:00 UTC
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The State Department said yesterday that a cease-fire agreement between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government may not be far off:

"An interim cease-fire is within reach, one which will allow the armed movements and the government of Sudan to achieve a comprehensive solution that includes security, individual compensation, wealth-sharing, respect for land rights and political participation by all the people of Darfur," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said in an e-mailed statement.

To reiterate sentiments expressed yesterday: I'll believe it when I see it. Calls for a cease-fire in Darfur have been made so often, it's difficult to take them seriously.

Meanwhile, a Darfur rebel group bashed a recent UN report that characterizes Darfur as a "low-intensity conflict" based on the number of violent deaths each month. The report estimates violent deaths at 130-150 a month, down significantly from the conflict's peak in 2003 - 2005. The faction of the Sudan Liberation Army claims that Darfuri civilians will not deal with the UNAMID peacekeeping force unless the report, submitted by its head, was retracted.

I'm not sure on what grounds the rebels are refuting the numbers, as I doubt the SLA has a department for data collection and analysis.

Quickies

US advocacy groups marked Obama's first 100 days with less enthusiasm than they'd perhaps hoped. While giving due credit for notable achievements such as the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan, several organizations expressed concern over the general lack of attention paid to critical needs in Africa.

The UN Security Council extended the mandated of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for another year, and urged the "full and expeditious implementation of all elements" of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running North-South Civil War in 2005. Not to be confused with UNAMID, the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNMIS was established to support the implementation of the CPA. While the conflict in Darfur is separate, though not unrelated, maintaining peace between North and South Sudan is critical to ensuring the same for Darfur.

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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