Chronology of Darfur conflict, peace efforts
April 30, 2006 — The Sudanese government accepted the African Union’s proposal for peace in Darfur on Sunday, a government statement said.
Here is a chronology of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur:
February 2003 – Two rebel groups rise up, saying government neglects arid region and arms Arab militia against civilians.
April 2, 2004 – U.N. aid chief Jan Egeland says “scorched-earth tactics” trigger “one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises”.
April 8 – Government, SLA and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels agree 45-day ceasefire.
May 7 – U.N. human rights report says Sudanese troops and militia may be guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
May 28 – Government, rebels agree to African, EU ceasefire monitors.
June 19 – Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir orders “complete mobilisation” to disarm all armed groups in Darfur.
Oct 15 – The U.N.’s World Health Organisation (WHO) says that a total of 70,000 are estimated to have died in the region.
Oct 30 – Rwandan troops arrive in the Darfur region to join Nigerian soldiers monitoring a shaky ceasefire.
Nov 9 – Sudan signs two landmark peace deals with rebels for a ban on military flights over Darfur and covering security and humanitarian access to Darfur.
March 16, 2005 – The U.N. withdraws all international staff in areas of western Sudan after Arab militias said they would target foreigners and U.N. convoys.
March 31 – The U.S. abstains as the U.N. vote to refer war crimes suspects in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. The ICC launches its formal investigations in June.
March 10, 2006 – The African Union extends its mission in Darfur until Sept. 30 to buy time to break an impasse over the transfer of peacekeeping duties in Darfur to U.N. forces.
April 25 – The U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on four Sudanese accused of abuses in Darfur, the first against individuals involved in the conflict.
April 30 – The Sudanese government accepts the African Union’s proposal for peace in Darfur.
(Reuters)