Genocide Monitor: October 23, 2008

Genocide Monitor: October 23, 2008

  • DARFUR: As more UNAMID personnel arrive in Darfur, the ICC continues to process its case against President el-Bashir, the Janjaweed are reportedly on the offensive in South Darfur.
  • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Fighting has temporarily subsided in North Kivu, but violence is reported in the previously calm region of Ituri.
  • SRI LANKA: More than 200,000 people are displaced in northern Sri Lanka as the government continues to close in on the LTTE center in Kilinochchi.
  • SOMALIA: Violence continues in Somalia as non-combatants continue to be victimized by shelling and assassination, even as AMISOM receives more troop reinforcements.

Spotlighted Conflict: Darfur

Situation on the Ground

Media reports indicate that the Janjaweed continue to advance on villages in South Darfur. At least 300 militiamen have attacked the village of Sinet and appear to be preparing for an assault on the nearby town of Muhajeriya.1 At least 11 people have been killed in fighting near these two towns.2

According to OCHA, continued violence over the past two months has displaced at least 40,000 people in North Darfur3 with 25,000 of these were uprooted during the government's September attacks on Disa and Birmaza.4

UNAMID Deployment

Reinforcements for UNAMID continue to trickle into Darfur as two more Formed Police Units arrive in the region.5 The police, from Nepal and Indonesia,6 will allow UNAMID to carry out confidence building patrols of IDP camps more often.7

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that he hopes 22,000 of UNAMID's 26,000 troops will be in Darfur by March and that the UN is in discussion with a member state to provide the attack helicopters that the mission needs.8

Peace Process

The government-backed Sudanese People's Initiative opened last week in an attempt to successfully resolve the Darfur conflict.9 The initiative was boycotted by a number of major rebel groups, limiting the effectiveness of any conference outcomes.10

On the international scene, the US called on rebels and the government to work with joint mediator Djibril Bassolet to end the violence in Darfur.11 This comes shortly after the Arab League announced its plans to host a meeting of rebel groups and the government in Doha, Qatar.12

ICC Update

Chief prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo spoke before the Council on Foreign Relations, detailing his investigation in Darfur and clearly restating his case that Sudanese President el-Bashir was behind the crimes committed there.13

While at the Council, Ocampo also stated that he will present a case against rebel commanders who killed twelve African Union peacekeepers at Haskanita last year.14

Ocampo's office in The Hague has received a request from the court for more information on the case against President el-Bashir.15 This request puts the ICC's judges on pace to issue a possible arrest warrant around December 12.

In what may be a step towards cooperation with the international community, the Sudanese government is reportedly considering action against wanted war criminals Ali Kushayb and Ahmed Haroun. Reports indicate that Kushayb is in government custody as a domestic investigation into his actions in Darfur proceeds.16 Meanwhile, rumors of a possible dismissal of Haroun from his position in the Sudanese cabinet have appeared.17 Human Rights Watch warned that these moves are merely ‘window dressing' in an attempt to delay ICC prosecution of el-Bashir.18

Area of Concern: Democratic Republic of Congo

Situation on the Ground

A state of temporary calm returned to the eastern Congo. Despite the lull, recent fighting in the east has forced more than 100,000 people from their homes and made it more difficult for humanitarians to provide assistance to the displaced.19

There are also reports of skirmishes in the previously quiet region of Ituri as a new rebel group, the Popular Front for Justice in Congo fought with the FARDC near Bunia.20 This takes place after an early October attack by the Ituri Patriotic Resistance Front, also near Bunia.21

Additional fighting was reported around Dungu town in Ituri as the Lord's Resistance Army was attacked by local residents.22 Over the past month, at least 52 people have been killed by the LRA in eastern Congo. The recent LRA attacks have caused over 50,000 to flee their homes in Ituri.23

Rwandan Involvement

The Congolese government accused the Rwandan government of militarily supporting General Nkunda's CNDP forces.24 The DRC claims to have photographic evidence of the presence of Rwandan troops in the east.25 As the UN attempts to confirm the evidence, it is urging both parties to meet for talks to prevent a new war.26

Two members of the Congolese parliament have reportedly defected to General Nkunda's CNDP.27 It is unclear what the long-term implications will be, but reports from Goma indicate that this is seen as a treasonous move as well as a sign that Nkunda may be gaining more influence.

Rape as a Weapon of War

Since the end of the Second Congo War, rape is an increasingly common feature of Congolese daily life, with 38,000 people being treated in UNICEF and UNICEF-associated clinics last year.28 The rise in sexual violence is linked to increased rebel activity and a pervasive culture of impunity where crimes go unpunished and uninvestigated.29

Area of Concern: Sri Lanka

Offensive Progress

The government captured the key village of Vannerikulam, west of the LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi, as reports of fierce fighting still taking place in the area continue.30 The Sri Lankan government said that its offensive was lasting longer than expected because of its attempts to prevent undue civilian collateral casualties.31

Effects on Civilians

Over 250,000 people are displaced in Sri Lanka, with 214,000 displaced in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu,32 an increase of 130,000 displaced since January.33

Despite limits on aid convoys, the WFP has resumed deliveries to rebel-held areas, distributing nearly 750 tons of food to displaced persons near the front-lines.34

Regional Impact

Members of the Indian parliament have threatened to resign from the ruling coalition if the Indian government does not work to halt the conflict in Sri Lanka.35 The Indian government appears to have ruled out any intervention in the conflict, likely due to memories of its intervention in the 1980's.

Area of Concern: Somalia

Situation on the Ground

Fighting continues in Somalia, as insurgents exchanged fire with the Somali government, Ethiopian troops and African Union peacekeepers.36 Over the last few days, at least 80 people were killed, with Ethiopian shelling reported near Mogadishu's Bakara Market and K4 neighborhoods as well as around the airport.37

Aid workers remain targets as two UN staff members were killed in separate incidents in the towns of Merka38 and Hudar,39 south of Mogadishu over the last weekend

According to the United Nations, nearly 61,000 people have fled Mogadishu over the last month, with 5,500 fleeing in the last week alone.40

Peace Talks

Another round of peace talks will take place in Djibouti later this month.41 The UN special envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, held preparatory talks with the participants in the hopes of achieving an implementable agreement for Somalia.

Peacekeeping Reinforcements

800 more Burundian soldiers arrived in Mogadishu to augment the AMISOM peacekeeping mission.42 This brings the number of AMISOM troops to nearly 3,000, with two more Burundian battalions preparing to deploy to Somalia in the coming months.43

It appears that the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops will depend on AMISOM reaching full strength. Speaking before the Ethiopian parliament, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said "our troops should stay at least until the African peace force is fully deployed."44

Piracy Off the Coast

NATO45 and India will send warships to patrol the Somali coast in an attempt to reduce piracy off East Africa.46 The naval force will attempt to stop ship seizures and escort World Food Program deliveries off the Horn of Africa.

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