Khartoum’s intimidation strategy against UNAMID
Sudan government hates and detests UNAMID. But International community encourages it by keeping dead-silent
By Trayo A. Ali
Like the “fox” which normally attacks chickens by the dark of the night and hence naturally hates the “light” of the day, the Sudanese “political folk tales” have it that every individual criminals (irrespective of being amateur or professional and irrespective of category belongs to), he or she inherently hates particular environs. In it, its said that the “thief” for example, (being tall or short, giant or slim), naturally hates five things: the “Watchman” the “Police man”, the “Jude” and the “Faki-man” (that is the traditional clergy).
– The “adulterer” (another notorious category of criminals) too, (being old or young) usually hates “nagging women” and the “noisy children” of the village.
– The Nashali (pickpocket), being the most smart, always fears and hates most the “curious on-lookers”, for they could be “potential witness”, especially in case he/she caught up with “pants-down” or like the proverbial pastor in the act.
And so on and so forth.
Irrespective of under whichever categories mentioned above may she fits itself, the Sudan government delegation profusely hates and detests the hy-brid mission, the United Nations / African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
Echoing president’s recently leaked statement they tell you the untold. Talk to any of these officials (particularly those meddling on Darfur dosire) and you will totally get surprised by the level of hatred they display towards the Mission. What makes one get even more surprise is the kind of arguments they advance and reasons they present in supporting their “loop-hole” position.
One particular contentious issue related to the ongoing talks on the Cessation of Hostilities regarding Darfur track is the “participation” of the UNAMID in the monitoring and verification of violations in case parties reach any agreement.
The government delegation (without presenting any viable alternative) is utterly against and vehemently objecting any participation of the UNAMID in such peace process.
While the arguments they present is so lousy, weak and dubious to the point that one can easily detect their embedded malicious intentions, the level of hatred they display is so intense and visible. Even you can read it through their body-language when the issue crops.
The sense of disrespect and a kind of abasement visited upon the “Mission” is so visible, vivid and noticeable to the point that it tips you to ‘smells a rat” from what they say. Its all part of the so-called “Exit Strategy” scheme that the government is pushing hard to execute.
When the movements explained their position on the relevancy of the UNAMID to act as a third party because of the mandate it has, the experience it acquired and the force it deploys on the ground, the government delegation argued that UNAMID has no “CAPACITY” to perform the role of monitoring and verification (sic).
The movements argued that the biggest obstacle that impedes UNAMID performance is the government frequent intervention in the mission affairs and activities including harassment, bullying, preventing free access and intimidating, doctoring facts massaging figures, intervening, tailoring and fabricating reports…etc
* International Community’s silence harms UNAMID
One thing that Sudan government consistently objected from the onset is the deployment of the mission. The government was successful in diluting the character of the UNAMID and was able to reduce into what it termed as a “mission with African character”. Later in the process the government PR lobbyists used all kind of disinformation techniques, deception, negative and naked propaganda against the Mission to the point that they described mission forces as “black African monitors” of HIV carriers.
What is prevailing now is the continuation of the same old game of warfare based on psychological intimidation strategy.
It now seems that the government combined strategy is giving a kind of “fruits”. But its a a poisonous and bitter pills affect the helpless people of Darfur particularly in the face of military operations such as the one in “Jabal Mara” where hundreds of thousands are besieged.
The international community should resolutely stand up and loudly defend its mission. We are to ask: why the government is allowed to insult international community by way of humiliating its mission?
* UNAMID withdrawal means free-fall genocide in Darfur.
Far back in 2012 when the governor start talking about the “exit strategy” many voices (including this writter’s” cautioned against the idea of withdrawal. The prevailing humanitarian situation in Darfur is not in any way better than ever before. In the contrary the government pro-militia are further recycled, legalized, revamped, retrained and better equipped to kill and loot.Their brutality is increased. Aerial bombardment, burning of villages, mass rape and abduction is order of the day.
UNAMID should be there, it should be better equipped, government should remove restrictions. Otherwise the mere thinking of its withdrawal is equal to voluntarily paving the way for a ” free-fall” style of further genocide.
International community should not further betray the people of Darfur. The international community should come out and say “Enough is enough”. “Dirty tricks” enough.
The only sure way to check the “thief” is to have the guard on the ground and the witness on site.
The author is the head of external relations of the Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) secretary of humanitarian affairs. He is reachable at [email protected]