The Genocide Monitor: Jan. 30, 2008

• Kenya: US envoy Jendayi Frazer said the violence in Kenya, though not genocide, can be described as "clear ethnic cleansing."
• Kenya: The UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide sent a staff member to investigate the situation.
• Darfur: Sudanese militias reportedly attacked 21 civilians in a village in west Darfur.
• Eastern Chad: European Union foreign ministers formally launched a 3,500-strong peacekeeping mission, called MINURCAT, to protect civilians and aid workers in eastern Chad.

Spotlighted Conflict: Kenya

Situation on the Ground

The violence, which began almost a month ago, has sharply escalated according to the United Nations. The death toll is over 850.

US envoy Jendayi Frazer said that though the violence cannot be considered "genocide," it is "clear ethnic cleansing." According to a Human Rights Watch investigation, the attacks immediately following the elections were reportedly pre-planned by opposition party officials and local elders. 

On Jan. 25, deadly waves of violence struck towns like Nakuru in the Rift Valley. As this BBC video shows, those affected by the violence, some who were slashed by machetes, are overflooding hospital wards. On Jan. 28, more deadly violence hit the town of Naivasha, where at least 19 people, including 11 children, were burned to death in a house by a mob. Though the government did send trucks to evacuate refugees, it also sent military helicopters to dive-bomb armed mobs, firing what the police claim were rubber bullets at about 600 people. 

In addition to attacks in various towns in the Rift Valley, casualties have been mounting on the roads in conflict regions. Thousands of machete-wielding youths have been torching roadside homes and buses, clashing with the police, and blocking transportation with burning tires. 

On Jan. 29, gunmen killed Mugabe Were, a Kenyan lawmaker who was a member of the opposition groups protesting the election results. The killing triggered violence in Nairobi slums.

As the razing of villages and the destruction of livelihoods has increased internal displacement levels, other atrocity crimes such as sexual violence against children are becoming more prevalent. 

International Response

Knowing Kenya's past history of political and ethnic violence, a host of former African presidents and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan have stepped in to assist mediation efforts. In briefing President Mwai Kibaki, Annan expressed his concerns regarding rising insecurity for the displaced population and called for the establishment of a national compensation fund to resettle the victims.

As the killings continue, Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement, filed a case with the International Criminal Court, charging the government with crimes against humanity for shooting at dozens of protestors. In response, President Kibaki has stated that he would file a counter-claim charging leaders of the ODM with "mass genocide" in the Rift Valley.

The UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide has urged the violence in Kenya to end and has sent staff from his office to examine the situation.

In the United States, Sen. Russ Feingold has been taking the initiative to bring the urgency of the conflict to the president's attention.

Area of Concern: Darfur

Situation on the Ground

As genocide continues in Darfur, according to a group of Sudanese rebels, Sudanese government militias attacked 21 civilians, including old men, women and children, in a village in West Darfur.

Tensions between the governments of Sudan and Chad continue, as they have failed to defuse Darfur-Chad border tensions.

Peace Process

Senior US diplomat Alberto Fernandez said distrust of the Sudanese government due to a string of broken promises is the biggest obstacle to further peace talks.

During the 10th African Union Summit on Jan. 25, the African Women's Consultation, joined by the International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor, said women leaders of Darfur must have an active role in all aspects of the peace process.

International Response

As the conflict between the governments of Sudan and Chad have yet to be defused, a regional mini-summit was convened in Libya to discuss the situation.

Sudanese officials summoned the top US diplomat in Khartoum, Alberto Fernandez, and accused him of interfering in the internal affairs of the country by condemning the appointment of Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal to a senior government post.

The government of Sudan's bid to chair the African Union during the upcoming African Union summit has garnered heavy criticism from international organizations.

UNAMID 

In the month of February, the UN Security Council is expected to focus on the difficulties surrounding the deployment of UNAMID. The UN, AU and the government of Sudan began a series of negotiations regarding the Status of Forces Agreement of UNAMID. Khartoum has repeatedly tried to obstruct expedient deployment. As this BBC video shows, the  deployment of United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force has been making slow progress and some say it may take a year until full deployment. Chief AU negotiator for Darfur Sam Ibok said the mission is currently "extremely vulnerable."

UNAMID has also started unarmed patrols of vulnerable internally displaced camps in Darfur.

Area of Concern: Eastern Burma

As this Voice of America video report shows, in addition to terrorizing civilians by burning villages and laying landmines, the Burmese army has also been confiscating land from ethnic states.

Meanwhile, according to Amnesty International, the Burmese military continue to detain pro-democracy activists. At least 1,850 activists are currently detained.

According to the United Nations International Children's Education Fund, 400 children under the age of five die every day from preventable diseases in Burma.

On Jan. 24, a joint statement by top diplomats Bernard Kouchner (France), Condoleeza Rice (US), and David Miliband (UK) called for the international community to support the return of UN Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari as soon as possible.

Area of Concern: Democratic Republic of Congo

The ceasefire that was signed on Jan. 22 by the Congolese government and over 25 other groups was quickly broken on Jan. 28 when Congolese Tutsi rebels loyal to Gen. Laurent Nkunda clashed with Mai Mai militias.

The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women expressed his deep concerns regarding the abuses that women have endured in the Kivu regions. 

Area of Concern: Eastern Chad

On Jan. 28, European Union foreign ministers formally launched the 3,500-plus-peacekeeping mission, called MINURCAT, to protect civilians and aid workers in eastern Chad. UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said he plans to appoint Victor Da Silva Angelo as his special envoy for MINURCAT. The force is expected to encounter opposition by Chadian rebel groups.

Area of Concern: Somalia

A senior UN refugee official said Somalia is the world's most urgent humanitarian crisis. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, over 132 people died over the weekend as refugees attempt to escape Somalia and reach Yemen. As Mogadishu has increasingly become shell shocked and deserted, civilians continue to be affected as 19 people died during clashes on Jan. 29. Fighting has also resumed in the central region of the country, creating harsher conditions for internally displaced people. On Jan. 28, three aid workers from Doctors Without Borders were killed in the town of Kismayo.