Darfur conflict timeline
KHARTOUM, Feb 24, 2008 (AFP) – The conflict in Sudan’s western region of Darfur erupted in February 2003 when rebel groups demanded a greater share of the country’s resources.
According to the UN, the conflict has left up to 200,000 people dead and forced more than two million from their homes. The Sudanese government says the death toll is much lower.
Key events:
– 2003
February 26: The Sudanese government announces the first of several attacks by rebels, who take the town of Gulu in western Darfur.
The Khartoum government sends in troops, and there are also attacks on the rebels by pro-government militia known as Janjaweed, with entire villages reported as being razed.
October: The United Nations seeks urgent aid for thousands of refugees crossing the border from Darfur into Chad to the west.
– 2004
April: A UN official describes the campaign against Darfur’s non-Arab population as “ethnic cleansing.”
The Sudanese government signs a ceasefire with the two main rebel groups after talks in neighbouring Chad.
June: US Secretary of State Colin Powell visits the region. Khartoum promises to crack down on the Janjaweed, but violence continues.
July: The African Union decides to send in a protection force, and the first troops arrive in August.
September: The United States describes atrocities being committed in Darfur as “genocide,” although this assessment is not shared by the UN.
– 2005
March: The UN Security Council says individuals who commit atrocities in Darfur can be sent before the International Criminal Court.
June: Khartoum, seeking to head off international action, sets up its own tribunal.
September: Peace talks open in Nigeria. Later in the month an attack kills 75 people, mostly civilians, in a town in eastern Chad.
– 2006
May: The government and the main faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) sign a peace deal, but two key rebel groups refuse to sign.
August: Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir maintains his refusal to allow a UN force to deploy in the region.
– 2007
May: The International Criminal Court issues its first arrest warrants over Darfur, for a Sudanese minister and a Janjaweed militia leader. Khartoum says the court has no jurisdiction.
July: Sudan accepts the deployment of a hybrid African Union-United Nations force to Darfur. It is to be called UNAMID and number some 26,000 troops.
September: Twelve members of the African Union force are killed in one of the deadliest attacks to date.
October: The UN and the African Union prepare to open new peace talks in Sirte, Libya, but Darfur’s main rebel groups boycott the talks.
December 31: The hybrid United Nations-African Union (UNAMID) force takes over the reins from the AU.
– 2008
January 28: The European Union gives a green light to the deployment of troops to Chad and the Central African Republic to help deal with the refugee exodus from Darfur.
February 19: New aerial bombings in western Darfur according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which accuses the army and Janjaweed of attacking civilians since February 8.
February 19: US President George W. Bush, visiting Africa, criticises the slowness of the UN deployment in Darfur. Only 9,000 of the forces are in place.
The United Nations refugee agency says it has withdrawn a team caring for refugees from the Chad/Darfur border after fresh aerial bombing.
February 20: The Sudanese military confirms waging a deadly assault in a western region of Darfur, and rebels say air raids killed dozens.