Darfur people fear new war between Sudan and Chad
Darfurians Fear New War between Sudan and Chad; Citing troop movements and Janjaweed preparations near the border
Jan 23, 2006 — The government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militia allies are massing a greater number of troops in the El Geneina vicinity along the border with Chad. Despite having witnessed more than two years of internal conflict with massive civilian abuse, six different individuals communicated with Damanga during the past week and reported further violence against civilians.
These individuals from the area around El Geneina told Damanga that this is the largest military buildup they have seen. El Geneina is the capital of West Darfur state and a strategic center not far from Sudan’s western border with Chad. There already have been cross border attacks between forces on different sides of the border. These informants believe, based on casual conversations between individual soldiers and civilians, that the military mobilization is in preparation for war with Chad.
A war with Chad will bring further deprivation for civilians, a population already suffering from atrocities during the internal conflict of recent years. Damanga calls on the parties to negotiate their differences. Damanga demands that the international community pressure the government of Sudan especially, but also Chad and the different rebel groups to avert a war certain to further devastate the civilian population.
One man reported two random murders in the past weeks of people he knew. Government security forces killed a 20-year old son of an acquaintance in unexplained circumstances during the young man’s school hours. In the other murder an 18-year-old young man was killed in El Geneina by Janjaweed militiamen when he returned from watching television at a friend’s around 8:30 p.m. The Janjaweed said there was a curfew and could shoot anybody out on the street.
One witness who travels among the markets of El Geneina reported an increased number of soldiers both of the Janjaweed militia and the government of Sudan in the markets. He also witnessed much military traffic ferrying troops and equipment toward the border in the past couple of weeks.
A woman reported she and her family have a greater fear of random sexual violence which forces her to restrict movement outside the home. She said a family member was specifically told by a soldier that he had been transferred to the border region in preparation for a war with Chad, and that the military was looking for spies in towns like El Geneina, Tandelti, Abu-Sirog, Beida and Arara. Another man also said that he sees many more Janjaweed militia and government soldiers in town and fears the possibility of attacks on women in his family.
A fifth resident explained that the Janjaweed now believe the rebels they have fought against during the past couple of years have infiltrated the towns in collaboration with agents of Chad. Where much of the Janjaweed violence was aimed at rural areas in the past years, they have a much greater presence in the town. He said there is a palpable sense of disdain and discrimination the Arab Janjaweed militiamen have for the African indigenous Darfurians when he passes by them in the town. The reports of Janjaweed cruelty that residents have heard, if not actually witnessed, leave residents feeling oppressed and occupied.
This resident said he and other townspeople expect no protection from the current AU force, because its members have been attacked and killed. A sixth individual said that a result of the impotence of the AU and international efforts is that government troops and militiamen mistreat civilians with impunity, and the government marches forward confidently with its militaristic plans.
“We have suffered so much and see death so regularly,” said the man who reported the murders. “We see no relief from international efforts. And now we watch preparations for still more war where the government soldiers and Janjaweed militiamen will have further excuse to target us, the Muslim black African residents of Darfur.”
Damanga calls on the United States, the African Union, United Nations, and the broader international community to back up their verbal commitments with action that shows moral and ethical courage and confronts the aggression of the government of Sudan and Janjaweed militia. Military intervention is called for to halt an escalation of the war into international conflict and further depredations of the civilian population.