- Describing the situation in western Sudan's Darfur region as "one of the worst in the world," the UN's most senior humanitarian official in Sudan has called for greater attention to the plight of civilians in the area. The UN official details systematic human rights abuses, attributed to government-aligned armed forces, while other UN officials speak openly of "ethnic cleansing".
Tom Eric Vraalsen, now the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, is working with UN staff to try to re-start talks on establishing a humanitarian ceasefire in Darfur. The Norwegian diplomat at this point makes no secret of what he sees as proven systematic human rights abuses in Darfur.
According to Mr Vraalsen, UN agencies have received "numerous reports of systematic, deliberate attacks against civilians in Darfur" since fighting erupted a year ago between the Sudanese government, rebel groups including the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and local militia. Those reports include descriptions of murders, abductions, the burning of villages and the looting of property.
Mukesh Kapila, one of Mr Vraalsen's subordinates, goes even further in his descriptions, speaking to the press today. According to Mr Kapila, the Sudanese government and its allied Janjaweed militia are engaged in "ethnic cleansing" in the Darfur region.
He told the BBC that the fighting was characterised by a scorched-earth policy and was comparable in character, if not in scale, to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. "It is more than just a conflict. It is an organised attempt to do away with a group of people," Mr Kapila said. He went on describing atrocities such as mass rape, looting and massacres, all attributed to the "Arab" Janjaweed militia, which is supported by the Khartoum government.
More than 110,000 Sudanese have fled across the border into neighbouring Chad to escape the conflict, while another 700,000 people are internally displaced within Darfur, beyond the reach of humanitarian officials because of the continuing fighting, according to data released by the UN today.
UN spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York today that while access for relief agencies "has improved slightly," fighting still constrains their work. But he said the prospects for the resumption of ceasefire talks are good.
Asked whether the UN now was terming the Darfur situation as a "genocide", Mr Eckhard responded that the "word 'genocide' has not been used by anyone here at [UN] Headquarters to date," which he believed to be "intentional".
Darfur political activist however for a long time have warned about the preparation of genocide in the area, stemming from the traditional conflict between the region's black African resident population and the semi-nomadic "Arab" population. The so-called "Arabs" are said to receive political and military aid from the Khartoum regime, leading to the organisation of militia groups attacking Darfur villages.
In a response to these ethnic strives, the Darfur SLA rebel movement was founded, attacking the Janjaweed and other "Arab" militias. The conflict turned into outright war a few months ago, when the Janjaweed militia started large-scale attacks on Darfur villages and civilians, by now causing around one million to flee their homes. The militia's strategy is by most observers seen to be one of ethnic cleansing.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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