Sudan: The Slaughter and the Protests Continue

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February17, 2007: The U.S. urged China to help resolve the crisis in Darfur. China is a major buyer of Sudan's oil, and major supplier of weapons and all manner of goods to Sudan.

February 16, 2007: And then he finally came out and said it. For the last couple of years Sudan has all but said that rebel groups in Darfur have "outside supporters." One of the outside supporters is Chad. There is very little disagreement about that, except from Chad. However, Sudan's government had never accused "the West" of supporting Darfurian rebels. Sudan had accused "the West" (usually meaning Britain and the U.S.) of supporting the SPLA rebels in the south, but not the rebels in Darfur. However, now Sudan is saying that the rebel groups (who rejected the May 5 peace deal) "move with freedom in Western capitals and receive financial and military support…" This is true in some respects - the rebel groups do have representatives in several European countries. "Financial and military" support, however, isn't certain. However, this is another Sudanese attack on the UN, which Sudan claims is an "imperial power" preparing to invade Darfur.

UN and African Union (AU) officials issued a statement that said the situation in Darfur could not be solved with "a military solution." The UN, however, said that violence continued to "escalate" in Darfur and that the violence prevented aid workers and humanitarian organizations from helping Darfur's estimated two million displaced people.

February 15, 2007: Government leaders from Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic (CAR) said they had reached an agreement to not "support rebels" who attack their territories. Sudan has accused Chad of supporting Darfur rebels and Chad has accused Sudan of returning the favor. The CAR has had to fight rebel organizations from both Sudan and Chad. Given the history of Sudan and Chad, there is very little likelihood that the agreement will last more than six months.

The UN accused the Sudan government of attempting to hinder UN operations in Darfur. The UN said that Sudan had failed to issue travel visas to members of a human rights commission that was supposed monitor the situation in Darfur. On February 13 the Sudan government said that the UN human rights group was "biased" against Sudan.

February 14, 2007: A spokesman for Uganda's rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA) denied accusations by Sudan that the LRA had launched attacks in Sudan's Western Equatoria state. In January the government of south Sudan said that LRA fighters were suspected of ambushing vehicles, robbing villages, and committing rapes in Sudan.

February 12, 2007: Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) guerrillas accused the Sudan government of launching an attack in the Fanga region of Darfur. The SLA claimed that "several" civilians were killed. Sudan denied the accusation. African Union observers said that Sudan Air Force aircraft bombed two villages (Kariari and Bahai) in North Darfur state. The air attack took place February 11.