This Week in Darfur: Rebel Rousing

Darfur's fractured rebel movements came under the spotlight this week, as US Special Envoy Scott Gration traveled to the region to push the groups towards a unified platform for peace negotiations. Three of the factions united, but one snubbed the invitation to meet with Gration.  (Three out of four, not too shabby.) Darfur's languishing peace process is nearly as much the fault of the rebels as it is the government at this point, as various factions seem to pursue their own interests over the people they claim to represent. (Sean Brooks at Save Darfur gives a great overview of the challenges of rebel fragmentation.)

It's difficult to see, from my vantage point, any coherence, coordination, or direction in the various peace talks currently underway (if they can even be called "peace talks"): In addition to Gration's travels this week, UNAMID held a round table on the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement, though most consider it D.O.A. because, among many other problems, only one rebel faction signed the document. Meanwhile, the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement presented his plan for peace negotiations to Libyan officials desperate to revive the stagnant Doha peace talks between JEM and the government.

Professional Obfuscator Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, met with Muslim clerics in Khartoum, and will travel to Libya in September for a summit on conflict resolution in Africa. (Because he's so good at it?)

Lots of meetings, lots of talking, but where is it leading to?

Quickies

The Enough Project covered Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's visit to the White House earlier this week,  with noted disappointment at the apparent absence of Sudan on the presidents' agenda.

The number of IDP camp residents arrested by government security forces in North Darfur rose to 27.  According to an anonymous source for the Sudan Tribune, the arrests and other intimidation are intended to quell opposition. Similar reports came from West Darfur, where camp residents claim that security forces are threatening the arrest of anyone with connections to Darfuri rebel groups.

BBC features a photo essay from photojournalist Stuart Price, who spent 13 months embedded with UNAMID in Darfur.

Speaking of UNAMID: The force is slowly but surely adding much-needed manpower, with contingents of Egyptians, South Africans, and Tanzanians joining this week.

An Irish aid worker abducted in Darfur over a month ago is still being held, though hopes are reportedly high that she will be released soon. Aid agencies used World Humanitarian Day as an opportunity to speak.out on the growing threats to aid workers in crisis zones. As always, for everything you ever wanted to know about humanitarian relief (and then some), check out Michael's blog.

[Photo of Darfuri rebels from AP.]