Eritrea accuses Khartoum of ‘horrendous crimes’ in Darfur, eastern Sudan

ASMARA, June 29 (AFP) — Eritrea has accused the Sudanese government of committing “horrendous crimes” in Darfur and “atrocities” in eastern Sudan but renewed denials that it is providing military support to rebels in the east.

Members of the Um Jalool, an Arab nomadic tribe alleged to be part of the Janjaweed militia, ride their camels 20 kilometers outside the village of Muhkjar in West Darfur, October 2004. (HRW).

In a strongly worded statement, the Eritrean foreign ministry scoffed at Sudan’s weekend announcement that it would complain to the United Nations about Asmara’s alleged support for the eastern rebels and slammed Khartoum for repressing minority communities throughout the country.

It labelled as “groundless” claims by Khartoum that Asmara is backing the Eastern Front rebel group which last week said it had launched its first offensive against government positions in Red Sea state.

The accusations “are either pretexts put forth in order to derail the entire peace process and renege from its commitments or deliberate diversion to foment problems in the region,” the ministry said.

“Eritrea’s historic endeavors to promote the cause of internal peace and stability in the Sudan are well known,” it said in the statement which was released late Tuesday.

“The horrendous crimes committed by the government in Khartoum in Darfur and the atrocities and injustices it has continued to perpetrate in the eastern and other underprivileged sections of the country in spite of the Naivasha Peace Agreement have remained a cause of concern to the government of Eritrea and the international community as a whole,” it said.

That accord was signed in January between Khartoum and southern rebels to end 21 years of war and is hoped will serve as a framework for broader peace deals between the government and rebel groups in Darfur and the east.

Both the eastern and western groups claim their regions are being marginalized by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

Relations between Khartoum and Asmara have been tense for years with each side claiming the other supports rebel groups on the other’s territory.

Their common border has been closed since 2002 but the new row has sent already strained ties plummeting.

Eritrea admits to hosting offices of the Eastern Front and Darfur rebel groups in Asmara but rejects charges that it offers them any kind of military support.

Last week, the Eastern Front said it had carried out successful raids against Sudanese government positions south of Port Sudan in eastern Red Sea state in cooperation with the Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

Confirming the fighting, Sudanese officials immediately accused Asmara of backing the rebellion and on Sunday announced it would complain to UN chief Kofi Annan about Eritrea’s behavior.