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Timeline from April 2003 | International
agenda | UN input
Darfur is an area the size of France in western Sudan. It has a population of approximately 6 million people. The region is divided into three states, North, South and West
Darfur. Map of
Darfur
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Timeline from April 2003
The current crisis in Darfur, which has resulted in population
displacement within Darfur and in Eastern Chad, results from fighting between
Darfur-based opposition groups (the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army, SLM/A,
and the Justice and Equality Movement, JEM) and the Government of Sudan and its
supported militia groups, known more widely as the Janjaweed.
Although the conflict has historical roots, the fighting since April 2003,
has escalated into a more widespread campaign of violence. Reports indicate
systematic clearing of areas based on the ethnic origin of the population.
Civilians have clearly been targeted. The UN Office of the High Commissioner of
Human Rights presented a report to the UN Security Council on 7 May. The report
identifies disturbing patterns of massive human rights violations by the
Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed militia which may constitute war crimes
and/or crimes against humanity. The report speaks of forced displacement,
arbitrary killing of civilians, and rape.
Following Chad-brokered negotiations in N'Djamena, Chad, the two main
opposition groups and the Government of Sudan signed a Humanitarian Ceasefire
Agreement on 8 April. Unfortunately, attacks by the Janjaweed and the rebels
continue. The African Union is deploying a Ceasefire Commission to monitor
observance of the 8 April ceasefire. The Secretary of State for International
Development met with the first observers in El Fasher on 8 June. The UK has
contributed £2m and a military observer to the team. The EC and other EU Member
States are also providing substantial support of finance and personnel. The
African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government on 6-8 July urged the
Ceasefire Commission (CFC) "to expedite the process, including the
deployment of the Protection Elements". The AU is looking to deploy a force
of c. 300 people to provide protection for the monitors.
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International agenda
Kofi Annan and Colin Powell visited Sudan at the end of June. As a result of
their visit, and the build up of international pressure, the Government of Sudan
and the UN issued a joint communiqué that set out a series of commitments on
the humanitarian situation, human rights and security aimed at resolving the
crisis. This is available at  www.reliefweb.int
The first meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism took place on 15 July and was attended by Jan Pronk,
Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sudan. Another meeting is
due to take place on 2 August. The African Union brokered talks to start a
political dialogue in Darfur. These began on 15 July and concluded on 17 July.
Discussions on an agenda and a venue for more talks are ongoing.
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UN input
The UN report on Human rights report recommended that the UN deploy human
rights observers to Darfur. With UK support the UN is working to deploy these
monitors as quickly as possible. Following the decision of the Commission on
Human Rights in April, the UN have now appointed an independent expert on Human
Rights in Sudan - Mr Emmanuel Akwei Addo. The UN Special Rapporteur on
Extra-Judicial Executions, Asma Jahangir, has also visited Sudan in early June.
She expressed grave concern about the credible reports of serious human rights
violations she received. Her report will be published in due course.
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