External intervention complicates Darfur crisis in Sudan

KHARTOUM, July 29, 2004 (Xinhua) — Two main rebel groups in Sudan’s western Darfur region claimed once again on Monday that they would not resume peace talks unless the government meets their demands.

Meanwhile, the anti-government activities have impeded international assistance to the region, which exacerbated the plight of refugees.

Local analysts say the Darfur crisis has been complicated by the positions recently made by some Western countries. Britain, Germany and Australia have said they may send troops to Sudan to maintain peace there.

Responding to the positions of these countries, Abdel-Wahid Mohammed Ahmed el-Nur, leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), said the international community should carry out military intervention as soon as possible to prevent Arab militias in Darfur from attacking residents.

But the Sudanese government voiced strong opposition to international military intervention. Najib Abdul Wahab, the minister of state for foreign affairs, called in the British and German charge d’afffaires respectively on July 26, demanding officials from the two countries stop issuing any speech which may further complicate the situation in his country.

The US government presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on July 22, threatening to impose UN sanctions on the Sudanese government if it fails to appease turbulence in the Darfur region within 30 days. On the same day, the US Congress approved a resolution, declaring that Arab militias’ attacks on black residents in the region amounted to a “genocide,” and urging the administration of President George W. Bush to promote the UN Security Council to adopt the draft resolution.

On July 27, the Sudanese government issued a statement, reaffirming its stance on political ways to resolve the Darfur crisis and firmly opposing foreign military intervention.

Appealing to the international community to support Sudan to resolve the crisis through political negotiations, the statement stressed the international community should urge parties concerned to resume negotiations if it hopes to realize peace and stability in the Darfur region.

The Sudanese government and rebel groups held peace talks in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on July 17, but failed to reach any agreement due to the conditions tabled by the rebel groups, including disarmament of Arab militias in the Darfur region.

The African Union (AU) has made efforts to help the two sides resume talks, but the AU officials admitted that peace talks will not be resumed soon since the Sudanese government can not meet all conditions put forward by the rebel groups.

Meanwhile, the Arab League (AL) urged the international community to give the Sudanese government more time to implement the agreement reached with the United States and the United Nations early this month. The Al also called on the Sudanese government to keep a wide rage of contact with Arab and African countries so as to prevent the UN Security Council from endorsing a sanction resolution.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said the Darfur issue is so complicated that it needs more time for solution, and the international community should give more chances to the Sudanese government.