Darfur 2007: chaos by design - peacekeeping challenges for AMIS and UNAMID

This report provides a background on the Darfur conflict and the state of human rights in the region. The report argues that while the Darfur conflict is often characterised as an ethnic conflict between “Arab” and “non-Arab” African people, this radically oversimplifies and mischaracterises the conflict. Rather, it argues, the rebel movements and the Sudanese government have manipulated ethnic tensions, polarising the Darfur population along ethnic lines. The report highlights human rights abuses committed in Darfur and provides recommendations for the Government of Sudan and the international community.

The report highlights abuses committed by the Sudanes government including:

• deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians
• continuing support for abusive militia/ Janjaweed and the failure to disarm them
• obstructing the deployment and work of African Union peacekeepers and humanitarian workers
• failing to address the culture of impunity and refusing to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC)
• allowing the consolidation of ethnic cleansing through land use and occupation

The report provides benchmarks as monitoring criteria for the international community to act upon if parties to the conflict fail to comply with some of the key obligations they have under international humanitarian and human rights law. These benchmarks include:

• immediately ceasing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians
• ceasing military, financial, and political support to, and recruitment of, abusive militia/Janjaweed
• facilitating the expeditious deployment of African Union and United Nations forces (AMIS and UNAMID)
• the Government of Sudan must take concrete steps towards prosecuting or assisting in the prosecution of individuals implicated in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious human rights abuses, by promptly complying with the ICC, amending government legislation, prosecuting perpetrators of abuse, establishing a credible justice system and establishing a process for member of the police and security forces
• facilitating humanitarian assistance to reach civilians in need, by immediately ceasing attacks on humanitarian operations, staff, and assets, and issuing clear public orders to their forces and allied militia to this effect.
• prior to the deployment of UNAMID, AMIS protection and monitoring initiatives should be strengthened