Annan accuses Khartoum, Darfur rebels of inaction

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Mar 14, 2005 (PANA) — The latest UN report on the conflict in
Sudan’s western region of Darfur has accused authorities in
Khartoum and the rebels in Darfur of having made no serious
attempt in the past month to find a political solution to their
conflict.

“Both the Khartoum government and the rebels failed to capitalise
on the momentum generated by January’s signing of a comprehensive
peace agreement ending a separate conflict between the Government
and rebel forces in southern Sudan,” UN secretary-general Kofi
Annan told the Security Council in his monthly briefing on the
conflict.

But he reported that the warring parties engaged in fewer clashes
during the month.

Khartoum and the separatist Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement
(SPLA/M) signed a comprehensive peace agreement on 9 January 2005
in Nairobi, Kenya ending over 20 years of war between the largely
Islamic north and mainly Christian and animist south.

Annan cited that while the government has issued “numerous
statements” suggesting its willingness to hold talks with Darfur
rebels, it has not stopped Janjaweed militias from attacking
civilians, nor has it acted swiftly or decisively to end impunity
for human rights abusers.

“The Janjaweed’s boldness, be it in regard to theft, attacks on
civilians or armed movements, is a direct consequence of inaction
by the Government to rein in, let alone disarm or arrest, these
groups,” Annan observed.

On the other hand, Annan lamented that “rebel forces continue to
harass relief workers, refuse to reveal their positions to the
African Union (AU) ceasefire monitoring force in place, and fire
on helicopters belonging to the AU and the UN World Food
Programme (WFP)”.

He added that increasing political division among the rebel
groups were making serious negotiations more difficult.

Annan called for strengthening of the AU monitoring force “during
this period of relative calm” so that serious clashes in the
future can be prevented or reduced.

Annan observed that the government and rebel forces are
attempting to seize more areas ahead of talks scheduled this
month in Nigeria, and warned that the security situation remains
fragile, despite the fewer clashes between government forces,
allied militias and rebel groups in February than in the previous
two months.

“An enhanced AU mission in Darfur should lead to physical
separation between Government forces and rebel groups, increasing
the potential for stability and reducing the likelihood of
militia attacks,” Annan recommended in the report.