The Darfur Consortium

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Arab media

March 7 , 2008

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur Refugees Seek Safety in Chad

  • Darfur refugees set up makeshift tents using shrubs and desert plants to protect them from the burning sun during daytime and at night when the temperature dips
  • Thousands fled their villages in Jabal Moon with little to nothing when government forces and Janjaweed militia attacked them using warplanes, all-terrain vehicles, camels and horses
  • The luckier refugees managed to build huts near the dangerous village of Birak, which is in the crossroads of a multi-party conflicts including Chad, Sudan, and their respective armed rebellions
  • The government said it wanted to chase Darfur rebel groups from Jabal Moon, but refugees, such as Ali abadan Dudu, who is 90 years old and Adam Abuho have a different story
  • Dudu said he lost most of his family members and described a never-before seen air bombing campaign while Abuho said the attack was a surprise and that he only managed to flee with his children and is now reduced to begging for food for his family
  • UN Refugees officials said that most of these refugees have no shelter and little supplies and are sleeping under the stars when the temperatures become very cold or very hot during daytime

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Russia to Provide Helicopters to Darfur Hybrid Force
By: Hilal Al Harthi

  • Russian UN representative said his country would provide some of the helicopters needed by peacekeepers in Darfur
  • he added the peacekeeping mission needs 18 transport and 6 military helicopters, and explained Russia was willing to provide helicopters capable of flying in desert conditions
  • the Darfur hybrid force only has 9,000 peacekeepers on the ground, while UN Security Council resolution calls for 26,000 peacekeepers
  • Sudanese government refused, for a long time, to allow any international troops in Darfur arguing all that was needed were equipments and funds to enable African Union troops to police the area
  • The government was afraid the presence of international troops would be used by Western countries to interfere in its internal affairs

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Presence of European Forces in Chad a Precursor for Possible Confrontation with Sudan
By: Emad Abdul Hadi

  • The recent clash between EUFOR and Sudanese troops, which killed a French soldier, confirmed Sudan’s reservations about EUFOR deployment in Chad
  • EUFOR is likely to face a lot of difficulties in carrying out its mission, as it adjusts to the climate and terrain of the region, the absence of any border markings and at the same time provide security in the volatile border area between Sudan and Chad and their respective armed rebellions
  •  Many experts, however, believe that the European force would show its true face as soon as it learns the details of the region and urged the Sudanese government to resolve Darfur crisis in order to preempt dangerous European plots
  • Sudan’s parliament member Taha Hussein Tajiddine said lack of border markings between Chad and Sudan would be the cause of the upcoming conflict between European and Sudanese troops
  • Political expert Mohamed Ali Saeed expects that European force would protect Darfur rebels and therefore prolong the Darfur crisis and would also prevent Chadian rebels’ activities and therefore provide protection to Chadian President Idriss Deby
  • Expert Mohamed Musa Harika said the presence of European force is to prevent Darfur crisis from spreading to neighboring Chad and other regions in Africa. He expects more clashes between EUFOR and the Sudanese army

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Arko Minnawi Acknowledges Differences with Al Bashir’s Government
By: Talha Jibril  

  • US wants Darfur refugees to return home so that a census could be conducted ahead of general elections in 2009 as indicated in Nifasha Agreement
  • President’s Advisor and Head of Provisional Authority in Darfur Arko Minnawi, who is visiting Washington, said he discussed the issue of Darfur refugees’ return with American officials
  • His visit comes on the heels of reports indicating some were thinking of holding general elections in 2009 without Darfur participation due to the ongoing violence
  • Minnawi acknowledged existence of differences between his movement and the Sudanese government, especially when it comes to democracy, freedom, human rights, and the way to govern the Darfur province

 

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