Northern Darfur governor downplays impact of conflict in W. Sudan

ALFASHER, western Sudan, May 4, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The governor of Sudan’s Darfur State has described the current crisis there as “no more than internal conflicts due to tribal rivalries” that had become exacerbated by “foreign interference”.

He said that 40 per cent of those who had been displaced had already returned to their villages.

Osman Mohamed Yusuf, governor of Sudan’s northern Darfur State, has expressed his optimism about the return of the displaced people to their villages at the start of the agricultural season.

In an interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Yusuf affirmed that the displaced people were having a summer break in the displaced “camps” pending their return to work at the beginning of the agricultural season.

He also admitted the existence of problems in connection with the deterioration of the security situation and the tension between the tribes. But he rejected the slogan adopted by the insurgents in dealing with the issue. For him, it is simply a case of conflicts involving local tribes.

The governor described the situation in Darfur as merely a tribal conflict, which developed to the extent that it went beyond government control. He insisted that the issue was not as complicated as has been suggested.

The following is the text of an interview with northern Darfur Governor Osman Mohamed Yusuf by Sawsan Abu-Husayn in Al-Fashir (Darfur); date not given; published under the headline “Darfur crisis: tribal conflict that went out of government control, says Darfur governor” by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site on 2 May: The text is translated by BBC Monitoring service:

What is the problem in Darfur?

The answer to this question is multiple and depends on the view and vision of the observer who is monitoring this crisis. As far as I am concerned, I believe that the origin of the problem is a conflict over the natural resources that are becoming scarce. Other complications added to the problem, including foreign interference. This situation led to the so-called score settling, particularly as we were about to achieve peace in the south. As a matter of fact, the whole problem was no more than internal conflicts due to tribal rivalries and the proliferation of gangs of armed looters. Such a phenomenon is not linked to a particular tribe. There are in fact numerous military groups acting in a secretive way within various tribes who use them if need be. Some of these groups moved beyond the control of the government and the tribes themselves. They started carrying out actions aimed at challenging the government. The Janjawid militia (armed tribes in the region) are among them.

But why does the issue of Darfur dominate the situation in Sudan and why does the entire world talk about it?

Control over the situation failed because of the extensive proliferation of weapons in Darfur and the fact that the borders with Chad and Central Africa are open. In addition, there is interpenetration between tribes living in Darfur and Chad. Sometimes you find a trader who has his business in Chad but returns to his home in Darfur at the end of the day. With differences in customs and tradition among the inhabitants of these regions, excessive use of violence started at a time when the role of the government’s police has become weak and purely symbolic in some regions. It should also be mentioned that even the means of getting information about the trouble spots are not efficient, because it takes time for government representatives to move to these regions, given the long distances separating various regions of the country. In addition, the insurgents are more powerful than the local police.

Another factor is related to the increase in animal resources, particularly in Darfur, where such an increase, combined with the drought, has created a negative effect. Consequently, pastoralists started invading the assets of farmers among African tribes. This situation led to the outbreak of problems between the Arab tribes involved in pasturage and the African tribes, the Al-Fur, who control agriculture and possess land through a “monopoly” system. At the same time, the Arab tribes want to have the same status as the Al-Fur tribes regarding possession of the land. But the African tribes reject any suggestion of sharing Darfur lands with Arab tribes. The problem became more complex following the clashes between the two parties.

Consequently, the situation took on an international dimension as it was aggravated by the low level of the education system and local services, and the proliferation of unemployment.

Tribal problems have existed for a long time; how do you explain this current flare up of tension?

Since the eighties, armed looting has increased and the tension has been escalating to the extent that it has become a rebellion. Then the rebels adopted slogans aimed at internationalizing the issue. With the beginning of 2002, some armed groups went into the Murra mountain and started their intensive military training in order to face active government [military] campaigns to deal with the security situation. For instance, the Al-Fur tribe, considered the fundamental base in Darfur, used to have rebellious militias. As a response to this situation, Arab tribes set up their military wing, called the Janjawid. Camps proliferated in the middle of the Murra mountains. This development led to a government military mop-up operation. As a result, the rebels who formed the Darfur Liberation Army and then the Sudan Liberation Army occupied Al-Fashir and burned several villages. In May 2002, a number of reconciliation conferences involving local tribes took place. Armed groups, based high on the mountain, responded favourably. In September 2002, the rebels entered the governor’s headquarters in Al-Fashir four times in reconciliation attempts, but to no avail. Reconciliation attempts also took place in 2003, but the rebels’ demands started to become difficult and the [reconciliation] attempts failed.

What were the rebels’ demands at that time?

They wanted to control 80 per cent of the Sudanese oil. After this demand was refused, the rebels burned and destroyed villages. Events escalated as they attacked Al-Fashir city on 25 April 2003. The rebels occupied the city and the airport. However, we are celebrating today the cleansing of this city from the rebels.

How far have the Chad negotiations gone in an attempt to find a political solution to the Darfur crisis?

The president of Chad, Idriss Deby, has sponsored the Ndjamena conference, given the proximity of tribes and the closeness of Darfur to Chad. But there were a lot of accusations against the Sudanese government about the existence of mass graves and ethnic cleansing. Given this situation, I say to those behind these allegations that the government has shown restraint and limited its action to self-defence only. It did not interfere in the peaceful settlement. The government has also liberated and released a number of children kidnapped by the rebels. I have a [former] prisoner whom I liberated. He has preferred to stay with me.

How many people were released?

We managed to release 61 people last September [2003] and 58 citizens two weeks ago. Besides, the president of the republic has issued a general amnesty for the rebels who give up their weapons.

Is there any problem between African and Arab tribes that could lead to the creation of a state for the Al-Fur in Darfur?

The government has set up committees, which confirmed that there was no ethnic problem in Darfur. The committees have also indicated that all Arab and African tribes were closely connected to each other through family alliances and marriages. In addition, the government has started to take into account the social fabric in Darfur and in the three states, in a way that the vice-governor in Darfur and the finance minister have to be Arabs, whereas the finance vice-minister has to be from Darfur. Therefore, there is no such thing as independence within the framework of a state, or genocide, or ethnic cleansing. These are in fact some of the rumours spread throughout the state. However, I do not deny the existence of problems and the deterioration of the security situation in Darfur, symbolized by armed looting and the burning of villages. This situation requires a review of the security action.

But what are the consequences of insecurity in Darfur?

The security situation has highlighted many negative aspects, particularly the fact that 28 per cent of schools in Darfur have been closed. Four hospitals have been burned, looted, and robbed. In addition, the belongings of 300,000 people have been burned.

Will the displaced people return to their villages?

The government has started the distribution of the necessities related to the new agricultural season. Forty per cent of the displaced have returned to their villages. The remaining 300,000 displaced people in the Al-Fashir camp and in Al-Kawkabiyah have received 5,000 tonnes of food, medicine and clothes, in addition to shelters. The government has also contributed to the repair of the water infrastructure. As for relief agencies, they provided about 60,000 tonnes of relief items. Besides, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also given some assistance to the displaced people.

What are the results of the political negotiations to end the rebellion in Darfur?

We have introduced a peace plan for Al-Fashir. It involves a global vision of the political and social fabrics of the city and we will submit it to the joint peace conference, which will take place this month in Darfur.