SUDANESE PRESIDENT ACCEPTS PEACEKEEPING PACKAGE FOR DARFUR, QUESTIONS OF SIZE AND STRENGTH REMAIN

Influenced by the diplomatic efforts of former U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and U.N. envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir accepted a package of U.N. support for peacekeeping in Darfur. Originally agreed upon at a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2006, the package includes a three phase process to strengthen the current African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the eventual deployment of a hybrid AU-U.N. force. In an exchange of letters between Annan and Bashir in December 2006, Bashir expressed his government's commitment to securing peace and security in Darfur by accepting the package, as well as mentioning the need to begin re-activated peace talks.

At the November 16, 2006 meeting in Addis Ababa brokered by Annan, Sudanese officials agreed “in principle” to strengthening AMIS’ mandate. The three-part agreement includes a “light support package” with technical support and minimal personnel increase, a “heavy support package” with several hundred U.N. military, police and civilian personnel and a hybrid AU-U.N. force with a joint command and control structure, increased troop levels and stronger logistical support. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir initially rejected the hybrid force, but allowed for a six-month extension of AMIS’ mandate. On December 19, 2006, the U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed all of the conclusions from Addis Ababa, including the hybrid AU-U.N. force. After rigorous diplomatic efforts by Annan and the U.N. envoy to the Sudan, President al-Bashir accepted the three-part Addis Ababa agreement on December 27, 2006.

Beginning on December 28, 2006, the U.N. began deployment of its light support package with 24 police and 43 civilian staff on the ground in Darfur. According to the agreement at Addis, the light support package will include a total of 187 military staff, 33 police staff, and 48 civilian staff on the ground. The light support package is scheduled to deploy in full by the end of January. The next phase will be the deployment of a heavy support package, with increased logistical support and more U.N. personnel. The heavy support package has also been accepted by President Bashir.

Soon after the U.N. announced Bashir's acceptance, the Sudanese ambassador to the U.N. rejected the U.N.'s claim that Sudan agreed to a hybrid peacekeeping force for Darfur. This is not the first time the Sudanese government has sent mixed messages to the international community about the situation in Darfur. Khartoum is known for promising action towards peace in Darfur and later failing to act on its commitments. The United Nations stands by its belief that Sudan will allow all 3 phases of the peacekeeping package to deploy as U.N. personnel continue to deploy as part of the light package. As the heavy support package begins to deploy in the coming months, the international community will see the sincerity of Khartoum's latest promise.

Shortly after Bashir accepted the Addis Ababa package, AMIS and the U.N. Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) accused Sudan of bombing two villages in Darfur with government sponsored Antonov planes. Sudanese rebels also complained of a bombing raid on rebel strongholds on December 30, 2006, only a few days after AMIS and UNMIS held meetings with rebels in the area. Though rebels and the Sudanese government signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, both sides continue to violate the ceasefire.

On January 4, 2006, clashes broke out between nomads and farmers in Darfur, killing 7 and injuring 30.  The Darfur Peace Agreement includes a provision for a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue to address additional grievances and long-standing disputes between Darfurians.  The Darfur-Darfur Dialogue has yet to be implemented. 

A major leader in Minni Minawi's faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army has resigned from Minawi's faction. Minawi's faction was the only rebel group to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006. Mahgoub Hussein said he was resigning due to the failure of the Darfur Peace Agreement and the Sudanese Liberation Army-Minni Minawi to bring real peace to Darfur. Hussein also stated his belief that Minawi's rebel faction no longer adequately represented the will of the people of Darfur. Hussein's resignation is another sign of the fractured and weak peace process in Darfur.

As he took office this week, the new U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon pledged his highest attention to the crisis in Darfur. On January 5, 2006, Mr. Ban established the first ever Darfur Task Force at the United Nations. As the Task Force's chair, Mr. Ban will help streamline all United Nations' programs and efforts on Darfur. Juan Mendez, the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, will also participate in the Task Force's efforts to respond to the crisis in Darfur.

+ DARFUR RESOURCE CENTER
 

Updated January 5, 2007