The Darfur Consortium

An African and International
Civil Society Action for Darfur

Members' Publications

August 6

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebels Meet in Tanzania to Prepare for Peace Talks with Government

Talks between Darfur rebel groups are set to start in Arusha:

• Twelve different rebel groups will be in attendance
• Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdul Wahid Nour’s group will not attend
• Meeting is hosted by African Union and United Nations
• The meeting goal is to agree to a common strategy for peace negotiations with the central government
• The meeting will also choose date and place of peace talks with the government
• Darfur conflict stated at the beginning of 2002 and led the killing of about 200,000 and displacement of 2.5 million people according independent experts
• Government in Sudan puts the number at 9,000 deaths.

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: United Nations: Resolving Darfur Crisis at a Crucial Junction

United Nations team said that political efforts to resolve Darfur crisis entered crucial point since the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1769:

• Jan Eliasson praised the Seucrity Council’s decision to send 26,000 troops and police to Darfur
• Eliasson will co-host a meeting of Darfur factions in Arusha Tanzania to produce a united strategy for peace talks with the central government
• The rebel groups will also choose the date and place of peace talks with the government

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur Conflict Scares away European Oil Investors

European oil companies and investors are kept away from Sudan’s vast oil reserves for fear of being a target of groups that oppose investment in Sudan because of the violence in Darfur:

• European caution is unlikely to change because of human rights abuses that are frequently reported by the media
• Sudan currently produces up to 500,000 barrels a day
• Absence of European competition left the door open for Chinese companies, which are less sensitive to media criticism and influence of various groups concerned about violence in Darfur
• Even though European companies are not affected by sanctions, they are reluctant to go up against powerful lobbying groups
• Lobbying groups’ pressure on strong investment funds was successful in getting many to divest from Sudan

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: African Union Condemns Darfur Rebels’ Threats against Its Forces

• African Union condemned new threats issued by Darfur rebels against members of security forces in Darfur and considered it “totally unacceptable”
• AU said 20 heavily armed rebels issued threats against AU mission members in Al Fashir city
• AU said the intimidation is regrettable and unacceptable especially at a time when the international community strongly supported stability and security in the region
• AU reminded Sudan Liberation Movement that the peace agreement it signed in 2006 prevents it from any military action, issuing threats, or intimidating AU peace mission

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Canada to Provide Additional $46 million AU mission in Darfur

• Canada announced an additional $46 million to fund peacekeeping mission in Darfur
• Canadian minister of foreign affairs praised “historical decision” by UN Security Council to deploy hybrid force to replace African Union troops
• Since 2004, Canada provided about $440 million in aid to promote peace and fund African troops working in Darfur
• The foreign minister indicated that no request for Canadian troops was received
• Canada cannot send troops to Darfur given it commitments in Afghanistan

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Threats against African Forces

• African Union condemned new threats issued by Darfur rebels against members of security forces in Darfur and considered it “totally unacceptable”
• AU said 20 heavily armed rebels issued threats against AU mission members in Al Fashir city
• AU said the intimidation is regrettable and unacceptable especially at a time when the international community strongly supported stability and security in the region
• AU reminded Sudan Liberation Movement that the peace agreement it signed in 2006 prevents it from any military action, issuing threats, or intimidating AU peace mission

The rebels reacted in protest to reduction in the financial assistance they used to get from the African Union

Source: Al Arabiya (Dubai-based Pan Arabic News channel with over 15 million viewers)
Headline: War of Words between Egypt and Israel Regarding Treatment of illegal Sudanese Refugees

Treatment of Sudanese refugees attempting to sneak into Israel illegally caused a war of words between Egypt and Israel:

• Majority of Israeli lawmakers supported allowing Darfur refugees to stay till a host country is found
• Israeli television station showed the beating and killing of illegal immigrants at the hands of Egyptian border police
• Egyptian official at the ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed Israel’s concern for the immigrants’ welfare while it commits worse human rights violations

Attempts to cross into Israel are a daily occurrence, which prompted Egypt and Israel to increase border security.  United Nations statistics show there are 1,200 illegal Sudanese refugees, including 300 from Darfur

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan Criticizes France’s Failure to Convince Rebel Leader to Join Arusha Talks
By: Ismail Adam

Sudanese foreign ministry called in French ambassador to protest France’s failure to convince Abdul Wahid Nour to attend Arusha meeting:

• France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kushner promised his Sudanese counterpart to pressure Nour to attend any meeting to unite rebels’ position
• Sudan also protested France’s apparent lack of concern for Arusha success
• France’s attitude toward Nour conflicts with France’s declared position at the highest level
• Sudanese foreign ministry questioned France’s commitment to peace in Darfur

Meanwhile, Umma Party leader Sadiq Al Mahdi welcomed resolution 1769 and announced a proposal of 9 items to resolve the crisis in Darfur:

• Unity of the region
• Share of the presidency
• Punishment for war criminals
• Creation of a national truth and reconciliation commission
• Compensations
• Economic development of the region
• Local leadership role in governance
• Peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries
• Equitable division of wealth and power

Read the above in Arabic.