U.S. and European media

October 14, 2023

United Nations/Gov Monitor: The UN extends the monitoring of Darfur.  The Security Council today voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring sanctions imposed over the strife-torn Sudanese region of Darfur. The 15-member body adopted a resolution allowing the group, which monitors an arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze, to continue its work through 15 October next year.  The panel, established in March 2005, is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by Council resolutions, and inform the sanctions committee about individuals who impede the peace process, violate international law or are responsible for offensive military over-flights.

Radio Nederland Wereldomroep: The International Criminal Court will start confirmation of charges hearings in the case against Darfur rebel leader Abu Garda on Monday 19 October.  A confirmation hearing is held to ensure that no case goes to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed the crime with which he has been charged.  Bahr Idriss Abu Garda has the right to attend the hearing or in his absence be represented by counsel.  On 18 May this year Darfur rebel Abu Garda, a member of the Zaghawa tribe of Sudan, appeared for the first time before ICC in The Hague. He travelled to The Netherlands of his own free will. He was allowed to leave for Darfur after his initial appearance.

Reuters: Gunmen attack Darfur peacekeepers, one wounded.  Unidentified gunmen attacked a peacekeepers' position in Sudan's Darfur region, wounding one soldier, a U.N. spokesman said on Wednesday.  The gunmen fled as troops from the Sudanese army and the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force arrived in support, spokesman Kemal Saiki said.  The Darfur conflict broke out in 2003 as mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against the central government demanding more autonomy. Large-scale fighting has subsided in many areas but rebels plagued by divisions, disgruntled militias and tribal rivalries have contributed to a collapse of law and order.

AllAfrica.com: Sudan: U.S.-Based Darfuris Call on President Obama to Replace Special Envoy Gration.  The following is a letter from U.S.-Based Darfuris written on August 13, 2009, to express grave concern about the direction of U.S. policy on Sudan under Special Envoy Scott Gration. Copies of the letter were also sent to key decision makers in the Administration and on Capitol Hill, and a translated version has been disseminated to foreign media outlets.

Dear President Obama,

We, Darfuris in the United States of America, write to you with grave alarm and concern about the latest news coming from our native land, Darfur.  The Government of Sudan is brutally taking advantage of the fact that the world is turning numb to the news of atrocities occurring in Darfur and is now wreaking havoc in North and West Darfur.  At the end of last month, the Government of Sudan mounted fresh attacks on our people in the areas of Korma, Ain Siero, Jabal Marra, and Miliet. The news we get from our people is that the Government used the now familiar tactics: Antonov aerial bombings, Janjaweed attacks on civilians, burning, looting, raping, and savage killings.

The Darfur Daily News is a service of the Save Darfur Coalition. To subscribe to the Daily News, please email [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Roberts at (202) 478-6181, or [email protected].