Violence returns to Sudan as peace deal falters

SUDAN’S Darfur region is facing a new wave of killings and rapes, with fighting between rebel factions displacing thousands of villagers despite a recent peace agreement, the UN humanitarian chief has warned.

Humanitarian workers are being attacked every day, and “new front lines are opening all the time in new areas”, Jan Egeland said.

He accused the Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Minni Minnawi, the only rebel group to sign the May 5 peace agreement, of attacking villages held by SLA splinter groups.

“The infighting has displaced 8,000 civilians over the last 10 days alone,” Mr Egeland said. “The attacks have included indiscriminate killings, mass rape, beatings, looting and the burning of villages.”

Mr Minnawi has denied his forces are responsible for the upsurge in fighting and new atrocities.

The Darfur conflict began in early 2003 when members of ethnic African tribes revolted against Sudan’s Arab-led government, which is accused of responding by unleashing Arab militias known as the Janjaweed who have been blamed for the worst atrocities. Khartoum had committed to disarm the Janjaweed under a peace deal reached in May.

Mr Egeland said there were reports of government forces supporting the latest attacks against the SLA splinter groups.

“It is heartbreaking to see what the SLA groups rightfully accused the Janjaweed of doing, they are now doing themselves to the civilian population caught in the crossfire,” said Mr Egeland, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

He also warned about reports of Sudanese security and armed forces painting their helicopters white, the same colour as UN and African Union helicopters.

“This is again a violation of international principles and poses a direct threat to UN and NGO staff who go on helicopters that are neutral, impartial and should not be attacked,” he said.