Is "Normal" Violence in Sudan Being Ignored?

Elections in Sudan have been marred by enormous logistical difficulties, but thus far fears of an outbreak of violence have not been realized, much to the relief of all.

What remains unsaid in many dispatches about the proceedings, however, is that while new or widespread violence is not being reported, the typical intimidation that we've come to expect from the government of Sudan continues unabated, as does the crippling insecurity in Darfur — as if a certain baseline level violence is so standard for Sudan that it's considered blasé, and thus overlooked as an important factor in the ongoing polls.

Most of the government's targeted violence against opposition politicians, human rights activists, and others goes largely unnoticed by the mainstream press. The events are scattered and usually relatively limited in scope, but over time add up to a systematic campaign of intimidation with a broad reach. Sean Brooks (of Save Darfur) wrote two pieces that delve deeper into issues such as the numerous recent cases of intimidation of opposition candidates by state security forces — an issue that few seem to be paying attention to this week.

Four peacekeepers with the UNAMID force in Darfur went missing on Sunday evening — they seem to have vanished without a trace, but given the region's well-earned rap sheet for both banditry and politically-motivated attacks on the mission, there's unlikely to be an innocent explanation for their disappearance. If they were ambushed, regardless of the motivation, the unfortunate event is symptomatic of the wider problem of insecurity in Darfur, which cannot be separated from the country's political dynamics.

But whether in Darfur or elsewhere in Sudan, intimidation should not be disregarded because it continues at a steady pace rather than climbing to new peaks. "Standard" violence should not be overlooked just because it's expected.

Photo credit: Mark Lotwis/Save Darfur Coalition