Press Release/Commentary by SDEMB
posted on January 21, 2004 at 21:43:23: EST (-5 GMT)
Press Release
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan.
(Washington, D.C., 01:21:04)
1. Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Draij is among the preeminent politicians and authorities on the Darfur region. An opposition leader in the Sudan Parliament from 1967 to 1969, he joined Jaafar Nimeiri’s government in 1969, first as a minister and then as governor of Darfur region until 1984. He then joined the opposition grouping of the National Democratic Alliance, and his own party is still working within the NDA against the current government. Ethnically, Mr. Draij is from Fur tribe dominant in the region.
2. In a lecture to the Sudanese community in Washington, D.C. one year ago Mr. Draij attributed as a major cause of the current fighting in Darfur to the drought that plagued the region over the last two decades. He said that scarcity of water resources and pasture land had brought the Arabic speaking nomads to the lands of the traditionally non Arabic speaking farmers (lands which include his own tribe, the Fur). That was the origins of the current conflict in Darfur. Mr. Draij also stressed the fact that Darfur is a multi-ethnic region, a home of non-Arabic speaking as well as Arabic-speaking groups. All consider themselves as indigenous Darfurans.
3. Aside from the drought and desertification that has affected the region over the last two decades, Mr. Draij has attributed the roots of the conflict to the outbreak of civil war in the neighboring countries of Central African Republic and Chad, in particular, since early 1970s. These conflicts had a direct impact on the Darfur region as they introduced semi-automatic weapons into the hands of the local tribes, thus creating the inclination to solve simple conflicts over land or water resources through the destructive means of modern weaponry rather than through the traditional peaceful inter-tribal mechanism. The civil war in the south of Sudan has also contributed to the plague of the proliferation of modern conventional weapons availability in the region.
4. This proliferation of arms has also contributed to a growing phenomenon of armed robbery and organized crime over the last twenty years. In an unending cycle, these growing conflicts continue to stir revenge and hatred among different tribes in the region.
5. Opportunists, including elements from Dr. Hassan al-Turabi’s party, the Popular Congress, with the complicity of the Government of Eritrea, have exploited the situation in an attempt to put a political face on it and to falsely lay the blame for the conflict at the doorstep of the Government of Sudan. They call it the Marginalization of Darfur. In politicizing this essentially law and order problem, these groups pit rival ethnic groups against one another, set ablaze villages, attack humanitarian workers and rob humanitarian assistance.
6. If the entire multi-ethnic region of Darfur has suffered from neglect and under development, why is it that so-called Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement are primarily made up of those who perceive themselves as non-Arabs, in particular members of the Zagawa tribe. If the issue actually were the development of Darfur that should have been a root concern of the entire multi-ethnic population of Darfur.
7. Indeed, Mr. Draij struck a stark contrast between the enlightened group he founded in early 1960s -- the Front for the Development of Darfur -- which was ethnically inclusive and conducted its campaign for development through peaceful means, and these current racially-based armed groups of today. He suggests that it is not a coincidence that the current problem is confined to only 7 municipalities out of 23 in the region.
8. The armed groups of terror in Darfur misread the positive steps toward peace in the south. The International Crisis Group in its report of December 11, 2003 entitled: “Sudan: Towards an Incomplete Peace” quoted the leader of the armed group in Darfur, Mani Arkoi Minawi, as saying:
“The government is negotiating with the south because of pressure from the international community and military pressure in the south, in the west and in the east…[A peace accord with the SPLA] will be a way for the government to regroup to suppress the other marginalized areas, including the west and our movement in particular. We want a comprehensive peace for all of Sudan – north, east, west and south…[or] we will represent an obstacle to the achievement of a peace.”
Therefore, it was indeed no coincidence that immediately after the government and SPLM/A signed the historic framework Agreement on the Security Arrangements, that those armed groups in Darfur attacked Darfur’s major city, El Fasher, in February, 2003. Now the Sudanese government is being unfairly blamed for creating the tragedy there. But in reality, the strategy of those opposed to the Government of Sudan and its efforts at reaching a just and lasting peace has become clear: attack the civilian centers to create a humanitarian disaster in order to draw international attention and recognition.
9. Unfortunately, these tactics only feed the flames ethnic strife in the entire region of Darfur and trigger the cycles of revenge and atrocities currently committed by yet another outlawed group called Janjaweed which the government condemned and currently working hard to disarm.
10. It is also regrettable to see certain parties formerly associated with the flawed policy of the previous American administration toward Sudan, a policy that according to former President Jimmy Carter “has subverted any sincere efforts to realize peace in Sudan for eight years,” fueling this war in Darfur as peace in the south becomes a reality. Are they afraid that their cause – chronic instability in Sudan – is about to be lost? Can they not accept the genuine desire of all Sudanese for peace?
11. It is unfortunate that some non-governmental organizations are contributing to the proliferation of armed conflict in Africa and undermining the already weak states there by justifying the usage of arms against governments to redress real or perceived grievances. Through this inflammatory method, states will eventually fail in most parts of the continent, creating the atmosphere to breed famine, misery, violence and, ultimately, safe havens for the world’s terrorists.
Refutation of Armed Groups Claims of Marginalization:
Sudan, after all, is designated by the United Nations as among the least developed countries, LDC. A list that has about 48 nations, most of them are in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Darfur comes second in terms of population density in Sudan, after the Al Jazeera region in central Sudan. That suggests how attractive and rich it is in terms of availability of basic services such as education, health care and work opportunities.
12. The entire region of Darfur had only sixteen high schools when the current government came to power in June, 1989. Today, Darfur has 250 high schools, 5 universities, 3 international airports and triple the paved roads it formerly had.
13. Any comparative study will confirm that people of Darfur are well represented in the national government, more so than any region in the country.
14. Thus the issue of marginalization should be properly defined and be analyzed in a comparative manner.
Humanitarian Situation in Darfur:
The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) declared that due to efforts exerted by the Government of Sudan, USAID, EU and other NGO’s, the stock of food and medicine it currently has will be enough until the end of February, 2004. The flow of humanitarian aid ceases from time to time due to attacks from the so-called Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement. The latter recently abducted five relief workers and destroyed trucks loaded with humanitarian relief.
The Government Strategy for the Conflict in Darfur:
15. The Sudan government is committed to solve the current conflict in Darfur through negotiation and peaceful means.
16. The Government stands ready to commit itself to any ceasefire that would facilitate the flow of relief aid to the needy civilians provided that the armed groups would do the same.
17. The following articles of Abeche Peace Accord summarized here below still present good base for peaceful solutions:-
a) Cease fire between the two parties and cessation of all hostile acts which may aggravate the situation;
b) Control and monitoring of paramilitary;
c) Release of all prisoners of war, detainees and those who were captured in acts related to the conflict between the two parties;
d) Grouping of Sudan Liberation troops in areas to be identified and agreed upon by the two parties, and that weapons should be collected and handed over to the Government of Sudan;
e) Formation of a tripartite commission between the Government of Sudan, the Government of Chad, and the Sudan Liberation Army, to follow up the implementation of the provisions of Abeche Peace Accord
f) The negotiations concerning annexes should start after 45 days from the date Abeche Peace Accord was signed to reach a comprehensive peace, and that weapons should be handed over to the Government of Sudan during a period not exceeding two weeks after the final agreement is reached on the issue of annexes.
18. There is much talk these days about the dangers of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists. But perhaps more consideration should be given to the dangers flowing from the simple and nearly ubiquitous automatic assault rifle in the hands of people in ethnically tense regions. Surely more people have died as a result of the Kalashnikov in post colonial Africa than were killed by the use of weapons of mass destruction in the last century.
19. The United States and the international community should remain vigilant against the growing numbers of groups armed with automatic weapons creating anarchy and chaos in the developing world. Armed struggle within a united country should not be tolerated under any guise, and never encouraged by the nations of the West. The urgent message to the armed groups in Darfur should be “lay down your arms immediately and talk.” Otherwise, a devastating conflict that would engulf the entire region would be in the making. The ramification of this conflict should not be underestimated.