African Union sees 2nd tier Darfur rebels backing deal
June 7, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union said Wednesday that it expects the second-tier leadership of rebel groups that refused to endorse the Darfur peace agreement to break with top leaders and sign a “declaration of accession.”
“An important portion of political leaders and field commanders from the Darfur movements is due to sign the declaration of accession on Thursday,” AU spokesman in Sudan Noureddine Mezni told The Associated Press.
“This is an important step for the implementation of peace in Darfur,” Mezni said.
The spokesman said the chiefs intend to sign the formal document committing to an immediate cease-fire at the African Union’s headquarters in Ethiopia.
Although the Sudan Liberation Movement’s main faction endorsed the peace accord with Khartoum May 5, a splinter faction lead by Abdulwahid Elnur refused to sign, along with the smaller Justice and Equality Movement.
The recalcitrant groups failed to meet the May 30 deadline to sign on to the treaty that aims to end the three-year war that has killed more than 180,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. Elnur’s support was deemed crucial because of his following among the Fur – one of the main tribes in Darfur, which means “land of the Fur” – who make up a large portion of the refugees.
The AU, which operates a 7,300-strong peacekeeping mission in Darfur, has threatened to impose sanctions on rebel leaders who reject the treaty, and said it would “soon meet to consider the necessary follow-up measures” against them.
The second-tier leaders who plan to endorse the peace deal have strong followings among armed groups and refugees in Darfur. Their backing could significantly improve the situation in the war-torn region of western Sudan.
Reports from the U.N. and the AU indicate that violence had worsened since the peace deal was signed, as armed groups moved to broaden their positions ahead of implementing a cease-fire.
The AU force was attacked six times in May – twice as many times as in April, and raids on civilians also doubled over the same period, the AU said. In 21 recorded incidents, at least 50 unarmed people were killed. Five Sudanese soldiers died in clashes and an AU soldier was killed in a militia ambush. An AU translator was stoned to death because refugees thought he worked for the Khartoum government. At least seven militia members were killed, and the Sudanese army allegedly killed four rebels from Chad.
Mezni believes the violence was largely a result of misconceptions about the peace agreement. Even so, he contended that the violence had dissipated slightly over the past week.
He said that in the coming days the AU planned to launch an extensive public information campaign that includes radio messages and the mass distribution of a brochure written in Fur explaining the agreement. “This, and the endorsement of the peace by field commanders should help to get everybody on board,” he said.
(ST/AP)