Sudan Human Rights Monitor Issue 22

The feature article of the March – April 2013 issue of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor provides an overview of developments in Darfur. The UN has reported that 300,000 people were forcibly displaced in the region over just five months between January – May, a higher figure than that of the combined number of people displaced over the preceding three years. The massive displacement figures from January – July 2013 were primarily caused by inter-ethnic fighting in North Darfur in Jebel Amer and in Central Darfur in Um Dukhun.

While the Government of Sudan (GoS) has stated that it does not have the capacity to quell inter-ethnic fighting, there have been reports of involvement by the Sudanese Armed Forces and other paramilitary forces. Forces such as the Border Guards and Central Reserve Forces have reportedly participated in localised inter-ethnic conflict using government issued arms and vehicles, killing hundreds and prompting the forced displacement of thousands. Government forces have reportedly taken no measures to protect civilians, and impeded the access of the United Nations and African Union joint peacekeeping force, UNAMID, to conduct verification missions.

The massive displacement and casualty figures in the first half of 2013 are taking place in a context where little political progress has been made in efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict and funding streams to the region are being reoriented away from humanitarian and emergency relief and towards development aid. Ten years on, the war is not yet over. Rampant impunity persists across Darfur, as seen by the alleged involvement of International Criminal Court (ICC) indictee Ali Kushayb in the attacks on Um Dukhun. The space for freedom of expression, assembly and association remains severely contracted. These restrictions impede the extent to which civil society and Darfur’s displaced can participate inclusively in the Darfur Peace Process, a process that many are already distrustful of and refuse to engage with.

While it is positive that donors are expressing interest in funding recovery programmes for Darfur, increased funding is desperately needed for emergency humanitarian relief. Conditions within the camps for displaced persons remain dire and have never fully recovered after the expulsion of ten international humanitarian NGOs and three national NGOs in March 2009 following the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant against President Omar al Bashir. It is imperative that the international community, GoS, and armed opposition movements in Sudan renew efforts to create peace in Darfur.

Read the full article here.

The monitoring report of this issue of Sudan Human Rights Monitor provides an overview of human rights violations documented by ACJPS between March – April 2013, including restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly, arbitrary arrests and detention. Over the reporting period, ACJPS also reported a number of public order law cases, including a case of 150 women in South Darfur who were each fined 300 Sudanese Pounds (approximately $69) for wearing tight clothing and not wearing socks. This issue also documents the harassment and intimidation of members of the New Life Church and Evangelical Church in Omdurman, incidents of sexual violence and insecurity in Darfur, and restrictions on the operation of civil society in White Nile state.

Read the full monitor here.