New Darfur clashes as US envoy mounts peace drive
Nov 19, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese troops and rebels clashed in the western Darfur region clashed on Saturday and a rebel group said 14 civilians and eight insurgents had been killed in the past 48 hours.
A senior U.S. envoy, Jendayi Frazer, made an unannounced visit to Darfur in a peace drive, meeting two leaders of the main rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), who have been squabbling over the SLA’s presidency.
Sudanese forces said they had attacked Chadian rebels who had crossed the border to the mountainous Jabel Moun area, but one Darfur rebel group said this was untrue and that the government was attacking its bases.
“Again we were attacked today, as we were (on Friday),” Khalil Abdallah, political leader of the National Movement for Reform and Development, told Reuters.
In a statement, the Sudanese army said 120 dissident Chadian troops had crossed the border and made a base in Jabel Moun.
“The armed forces have undertaken operations in Jabal Moun … to expel the Chadian dissident forces,” the army said, adding one Chadian had been arrested.
The African Union (AU), which has ceasefire monitors in Darfur, said there had been heavy fighting in the area and reported casualties but did not have any figures.
Tens of thousands have been killed since a revolt in Darfur began in early 2003.
Non-Arab rebels took up arms because they said the central government monopolised wealth and power. The United Nations says Khartoum then armed Arab militias who stand accused of a campaign of killing, rape and looting that forced more than 2 million to flee their homes.
The United States has called the violence genocide, a charge Khartoum denies.
Earlier this month, the SLA elected a new president, Minni Arcua Minnawi, at a congress after incumbent Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur refused to attend. But some factions disagreed with the vote and the group has since split.
Frazer’s visit was designed to convince the two SLA leaders, who both claim the presidency of the group, to form a joint position and attend AU-sponsored peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
The peace talks are due to start on November 21, but AU sources have said they were likely to be delayed for logistical reasons.
Nur said Frazer, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, had threatened any rebel faction with sanctions if it tried to jeopardise the peace talks.
“We agreed to go as two separate delegations but to have a joint position. But Minnawi refused this,” Nur told Reuters.
Minnawi was not immediately available for comment.
(Reuters)