Peace talks over the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur began in Nigeria Monday despite continued insurgencies and a virtual deadlock between involved parties.
Each side accused the other of breaking a cease-fire as talks began after a four-day delay due to a transport mix-up left rebel negotiators stranded across the continent for up to four days.
'They are already preparing for war,' said Ahmed Mohammed Tugod, chief negotiator for JEM, one of two rebel groups present, who accused the government of 'systematic bombardment' in the Allaiet area of eastern Darfur.
The Peace Talks Previous talks between the Sudanese government and rebels dragged on for three weeks only to collapse with no agreement, but pressure is mounting on both sides to ease the plight of 1.5 million civilians displaced by the conflict.
'This time people are more willing to discuss,' said Jan Pronk, the United Nation’s (U.N.) secretary-general's special representative in Sudan.
African Union (AU) peace talk mediators said their first hurdle would be to persuade both sides to sign a humanitarian protocol drawn up at the last round of talks to allow more aid to the refugees. Some observers of the talks say both sides have an interest in dragging out the peace process.
Rebels have previously said they would only sign it once they have also agreed on security issues. Rebels want more international pressure on Khartoum, while the government aims to limit condemnation to avoid international scrutiny.
Government spokesman Ibrahim Mohammed said rebels were the first to attack in Allaiet and troops retaliated, adding that the government was complying with the cease-fire terms.
To complicate matters, two more rebel factions have emerged in Darfur to begin renewed fighting efforts.
The Struggle The United Nations estimates 70,000 people have died from malnutrition and disease in the last seven months alone and 1.5 million forced from their homes in the Darfur crisis. The calamity began in February 2003 when two rebel groups launched a revolt in western Sudan over what they regarded as unjust treatment by the government and ethnic Arab countrymen after years of skirmishes between the groups.
Major bloodshed ensued when pro-government Arab militias called Janjaweed reacted by unleashing attacks on Darfur villages, supposedly at the instruction of government officials who have since denied the charge.
The U.N. is currently investigating if the campaign of killing, rape and looting by the Janjaweed militias constitutes genocide, and has threatened to impose sanctions on Khartoum if it does not stop the violence and disarm the militias.
European Support The European Union (EU) has agreed to provide up to $125 million to support the Sudanese peacekeeping force.
The EU funding still needs final approval from the Union's 25 national capitals, but officials said many governments had already indicated they would grant approval, having already provided $15 million for the mission. Much of the EU's financial assistance would go to providing rations, shelter and fuel for the force, officials said.
Officials said the United States, Canada and Australia had also offered to help with the Darfur crisis.
Aside from funding, EU officials have committed continued help with planning and logistics for the peacekeepers.
'This is a major chance to improve the situation,' EU spokesperson Cristina Gallach said of the mission. 'It can be decisive.'
Rwandan Troops The AU's Peace and Security Council agreed on Wednesday to increase its peacekeeping force in Darfur from 390 to 3,320 troops and civilian police in an effort to end the violence. The AU force will include 450 unarmed military observers, a major increase from the 80 currently deployed there. The observers have been protected by an armed security force of 310 troops which will be increased to 2,341. The new mission with a one-year mandate will also include 815 civilian police officers and 164 civilian staff.
The one-year operation is expected to cost $220 million, paid for mainly by the EU and the United States, according to council head Said Djinnitl.
The enhanced force led by Rwandan troops should be in the region, at the latest, by early next month.
'We have told the Nigerians that their troops will be deployed on the 28th of October and the Rwandese on the 30th of October and that is what is going to happen,' AU commissioner for peace and security Said Djinnit told Reuters.
