February 3, 2010 (EL FASHER) – The African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) strongly denied that it had given supplies to rebels, dismissing the accusations recently made by the spokesman of the Sudanese Armed Forces that the Mission is in collaboration with the Justice and Equality Movement.

Nigerian soldiers serving with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

The hybrid peacekeeping mission was responding to allegations made Monday that the peacekeepers willingly supplied the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) with food and fuel.

The Sudanese army spokesman said that JEM hijacked six trucks belonging to UNAMID, after which the peacekeepers did not report the incident to authorities. He also claimed that on January 25 another two trucks loaded with 70 barrels of fuel had gone missing.

JEM rebels in recent months are reported to have returned into Darfur from rear bases in Chad, due to improving relations between the capitals at Khartoum and N’djamena.

“UNAMID has never and will never collaborate in the form described with any parties to the conflict in Darfur. The Mission does not and shall not deviate from its responsibility and mandated obligation to serve as an impartial and honest broker in the peace process,” stated the Mission’s public information division.

The peacekeepers said that they have established good relations with the Government of Sudan at all levels, which these “unfounded allegations” will not affect.

The Mission added that it “remains committed to implementing its mandate and its priorities, as established by the new Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari, of enhancing the security of civilians and internally displaced people in Darfur; continuing to provide proactive support to the ongoing peace process; and assisting in the normalization of relations between Chad and the Sudan.”

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February 4, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) issued a statement on Thursday morning decrying what it described as “persistent targeting” by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan and president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

On Wednesday the five-member appeal chamber reversed a majority decision by the Pre-Trial Chamber that excluded the crime of genocide from the arrest warrant issued for the Sudanese president but kept the counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa, something which Khartoum vehemently denies labeling the accusations leveled at the Sudanese president as “lies” and a “Western conspiracy”.

Ocampo filed a challenge afterwards arguing that the Pre-Trial judges used a higher evidentiary threshold than is required at this stage of the proceedings in determining whether Bashir had genocidal intent.

“The Pre-Trial Chamber applied an erroneous standard of proof when evaluating the evidence submitted by the Prosecutor and, consequently, rejected his application for a warrant of arrest in respect of the crime of genocide. Therefore, the decision by the Pre-Trial Chamber not to issue a warrant of arrest in respect of that crime was materially affected by an error of law. It is therefore appropriate to reverse the Impugned Decision to that extent” the appeal chamber written decision read.

The case has been sent back to the Pre-Trial chamber to review the case anew and enter a new decision consistent with today’s ruling. The judges may take anywhere between a few weeks to one year before they complete their reconsideration of the genocide counts.

Sudan’s ruling party reiterated the country’s position that they do not recognize the jurisdiction of the court and threatening to repeat the scenario of expelling agencies that “exceed the law and violate the sovereignty and pride of Sudanese people”.

Following the March, 2009 ICC indictments, the Sudanese president expelled a dozen aid groups from Darfur accusing them of supplying false info to the Hague based court.

The NCP said that the timing of the decision coincides with peace talks in Doha and the April elections and urged the Sudanese people to ignore the court and focus on national building issues. The party led by Bashir hailed the African Union, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and other groups in backing Sudan against the ICC moves.

Ocampo welcomed the decision and warned Bashir he needed to “get a lawyer,” adding he would present fresh evidence to the court in a second bid to have Bashir charged with genocide.

“Expelling humanitarian assistance is a great element of his genocidal intentions,” Moreno-Ocampo told Reuters.

“When he expelled these people who were providing the water and the food he confirmed his intention to destroy his people. So I would like to present this new aspect of the case.”

Several Rights groups around the world hailed today’s decision saying it brings the justice issue into the spotlight.

“Today’s decision is a strong reminder that President al-Bashir is wanted for heinous crimes committed in Darfur,” Elise Keppler, Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program senior counsel, said in a release. “President al-Bashir is a fugitive from justice who needs to appear in The Hague to answer to the allegations against him.”

Amnesty International senior legal advisor Christopher Hall echoed the same position.

“I think little by little, the vice is closing in on him and at some point he will have to face a trial in the International Criminal Court in the same way that President Milosevic or President Taylor or numerous other officials from Rwanda and Sierra Leone have had to face trials,” said Christopher Hall.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said in Ghana that Bashir should go to the ICC to face justice. “We think that President Bashir should present himself to the court to face charges,” Carson told reporters.

There was no reaction so far from any of Bashir’s backers in the Arab, African or Islamic states.

Darfur’s main rebel group welcomed the ICC’s decision, saying it is the logical conclusion to be made.

“The destruction that was inflicted upon Darfuris speaks for itself. It was not a conventional warfare. Bashir was in charge and he had publicly told the army that he does not want any prisoners or wounded from Darfur” JEM official spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam told Sudan Tribune from Doha.

Adam reiterated that the ruling will have no impact on the political process currently underway with Khartoum.

“The legal path is separate from the political one. Justice and peace go hand in hand but as far as JEM is concerned peace remains our strategic objective and our position is unchanged. The ICC is an independent institution carrying out a legal task” he said.

Bashir flew to Qatar today on a brief visit in which he met with the ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani . Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs said that the talks tackled the stalled peace talks hosted by Qatar between Khartoum and Darfur rebel groups.

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By Daniel Van Oudenaren

February 2, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – President Barack Obama revealed in an interview Monday with YouTube, a video-sharing website banned in Sudan, that he and his advisors have not yet concluded whether ’engagement’ with Sudan will result in meeting their goals. The president referred to brokering a peace agreement between Khartoum and Darfur rebels as “the next step in the challenge.”

President Barack Obama (AP)

The president said his special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, “has been very active in trying to bring together the international community to get that deal brokered.” The negotiations themselves will be hosted in Doha, Qatar, and they have not yet begun. Sudan’s representatives have set a late March deadline for wrapping up the talks ahead of the April 11 nationwide elections.

President Obama also pointed out also that the Administration had achieved its “first task” in Darfur by negotiating the entry of some replacement aid capacity after 13 international aid groups were expelled in March 2009 for alleged collusion with the International Criminal Court. “We were able to get that assistance back in to help at least initially stabilize the situation.”

In his remarks the president linked a political settlement of the conflict to the return of the population of roughly three million displaced people.

“We continue to put pressure on the Sudanese government,” said President Obama, referring to the Darfur. “If they are not cooperative in these efforts, then it is going to be appropriate for us to conclude that engagement doesn’t work, and we’re going to have to apply additional pressure on Sudan in order to achieve our objectives. But my hope is, that we can broker agreements with all the parties involved to deal with what has been enormous human tragedy in that region,” he said.

This is the first time that the president himself has referred to his Administration’s policy overall as “engagement.” His remark is also an indication that he is not yet decided on whether engagement “works,” as he put it.

The president’s special envoy since his first trip to Khartoum in April 2009 has met with top Sudanese officials, although not apparently with President Omer Al-Bashir. Mr. Gration stated in October that “broad, deep engagement” with parties including the ruling National Congress is fundamental to the U.S. strategy. He has defended the Administration’s diplomatic efforts on the grounds that they wrought progress in mediating outstanding issues between the ruling party and its ex-nemesis, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, and between Sudan and Chad which were each supporting rebels against the other.

In response to the U.S. president’s statement, a member of the Sudanese government delegation at Doha downplayed the importance of the president’s mention of pressuring Sudan’s government in order to achieve peace in Darfur. Omer Adam Rahama told the state Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that such pressure is unnecessary since the government is already aware of its duty toward its people.

Seifeldin Omer Yasin, the Embassy of Sudan’s press counsellor said in an e-mail Monday that the U.S. and Sudan “remain engaged in talks to resolve their differences. For its part, Sudan has made good on its promises and commitments. The Darfur conflict, an issue that occupied a monumental spot within the international community, has subsided today, thanks to the immense efforts exerted by all involved…. the U.S. must put this progress into account in order for the two countries to move forward.”

But Mr. Obama’s diplomatic approach has come under fire in other quarters. “Our position is that the U.S. policy of engagement with Khartoum has emboldened the ruling party,” Leonard A. Leo, chairman of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom said in an interview today with Sudan Tribune. The commission chairman, who visited Sudan in both December and January, cited crackdowns on opposition members and unchecked security powers that could affect the April elections.

“I think it’s important that the Administration announce what specifically it’s been doing to ensure free and fair elections,” said Mr. Leo, “…there are just a lot of unanswered questions about the Administration’s involvement in some of this and where it’s headed. I think that would be my major concern on what’s going on here.”

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January 31, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has expressed today Sudan’s readiness to cooperate with the UN and the African Union in a four-track announced by the UN Secretary General in Addis Ababa.

Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir (AFP)

Al-Bashir made his statement during a special meeting on Sudan held on the sidelines of the 14th African Summit. Besides, Ban Ki-Moon and the new AU Chairman Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika, the meeting was attended by South African President Jacob Zuma, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zinawi.

Ban Ki-Moon told the special summit on Sunday that the common strategic objective for 2010 should be a peaceful resolution to the two conflicts in Sudan. He further said UN would pursue a four-track strategy to achieve this goal.

The UN chief emphasized the UN will work with Sudanese parties, the AU “to coordinate activities and forge a consensus on the way forward,” strengthen the UN presence on the ground, promote discussions between the parties on key post-referendum issues, and to work with our partners to help build the capacity particularly in South Sudan.

President al-Bashir confirmed the readiness of the Government of Sudan to cooperate with representatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and African Union Commission Chairperson for the enforcement of the four tracks, said Presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail in a statement to the official Sudan News Agency.

Ismail also said that Bashir briefed the meeting on the latest developments in Darfur, elections, and Sudan’s relations with international community and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

According to the presidential adviser, the summit praised the positive developments taking place in Sudan, particularly on the implementation of the CPA and the situation in Darfur.

Jean Ping, the chairman of the AU commission and Ban ki-Moon this week said worried about the possible secession of the southern Sudan.

Ban reminded the CPA parties their commitment to make unity attractive but stressed that “In the end, the future of Sudan rests with the Sudanese people.” He also said the UN and AU must “provide them with critical assistance on their difficult journey towards lasting peace and prosperity.”

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January 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The new head of the hybrid peacekeeping operation and joint representative in Darfur disclosed to the media that supporting the ongoing efforts to settle the seven-year conflict tops his priorities for Darfur.

JSR Ibrahim Gambari (C) talking with the Deputy Joint AU-UN Chief Mediator, Azouz Ennifar (L), in presence of DJSRs Henry Anyidoho and Mohamed Yonis (Photo UNAMID)

Gambari who arrived last Friday to Khartoum after serving recently as top United Nations envoy for Myanmar said the UNAMID should now move from the focus on the deployment to the implementation of the core its mandate.

The Nigerian diplomat said at the top of his priorities comes the need to support the peacemaking process led by the joint mediator Djibril Bassole and the recent initiative of the former South African President Thabo Mbeki to end Darfur conflict; adding he would suggest some idea on how to harmonize between them.

Mbeki who was last week in Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials met with Gambari before to leave Sudan.

The chairman of the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD) Thabo Mbeki had been appointed by the African Union to seek ways to achieve justice in Darfur but he came up with a holistic plan to resolve Darfur conflict. The move pushed the UN Security Council and UN Secretary General to stress that Mbeki’s work should not undermine the process led by the joint mediator.

The Special Joint Representative who was speaking following a meeting with the President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir said UNAMID second priority under his leadership is to enhance and contribute to the shaky security of civilians in Darfur “So that conditions will be created for people from IDP camps to return to their homes,” he added.

He also underscored that such move can pave the way for recovery and development.

The third priority for the new joint special envoy is to improve bilateral relations between Sudan and Chad “Because if that relation is improved and the two countries are at peace, this will contribute significantly to peace in Darfur”. Gambari emphasized he has the full support of the Sudanese government.

On Friday the joint representative is expected fly to the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa to meet with AU commission leadership and attend the organization’s annual summit.

(ST)