CHRONOLOGY-Darfur conflict, peace efforts

Sept 25, 2006 — The African Union will add 4,000 troops to its extended Darfur peacekeeping mission, a spokesman for the AU said on Monday.

Since the signing of a fragile peace pact in May between the government and one rebel group, fighting has only increased.

Here is a chronology of events since the peace deal.

May 5, 2006 – The government of Sudan and a SLA rebel faction sign peace deal. SLA rival faction and the smaller Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reject the deal.

May 8 – Darfuris in Kalma Camp in South Darfur loot the African Union (AU) compound and beat to death an interpreter. Jan Egeland, the visiting U.N. under-secretary for humanitarian affairs, makes hasty retreat in the face of violent protests. June 1 – Two Darfur rebel groups refuse to sign a peace deal ahead of a deadline set by the African Union (AU).

June 5 – U.N. Security Council descends on Sudan for the first time to try to convince Khartoum that a U.N. peacekeeping operation in Darfur was not tantamount to an invasion force.

June 20 – Sudan tells visiting South African President Mbeki it is out of the question for U.N. troops to deploy in Darfur to replace an AU force there.

July 3 – New alliance of Darfur rebel commanders and political parties, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attack the town of Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan, declaring a 2004 truce dead.

— JEM formed a new alliance the week before called the National Redemption Front (NRF) with a few breakaway SLA commanders and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance.

Aug 7 – Former Darfur rebel leader Minni Arcua Minnawi is sworn in as special assistant to the president, which some hope will mark the real start of implementation of a May peace deal.

Aug 8 – Aid agencies say July was the most dangerous month for aid workers in Darfur with eight Sudanese staff killed and access restricted by violence and intimidation.

Aug 17 – Britain and the United States introduce a Security Council resolution to send U.N. peacekeepers to Darfur. Sudan’s ruling party rejects the draft resolution a week later.

Aug 31 – U.N. Security Council votes to create a U.N. peacekeeping force of up to 22,500 U.N. troops and police in Darfur, despite Khartoum’s opposition.

Sept 20 – The AU agrees to extend its mission until Dec. 31, with logistical and material support from the U.N. and funding from Arab states. Five days later the AU says it will add 4,000 troops to its extended mission, bringing the number to 11,000.

(Reuters)