Genocide Monitor: June 8, 2010

  • SUDAN: Renewed fighting is reported in South Darfur and across South Sudan.
  • BURMA: Residents of eastern Burma are on the move as clashes take place between the government and ethnic militia.
  • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: The Lord’s Resistance Army remains a threat to Congolese civilians and the United States ratifies the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.
  • SOMALIA: The International Committee of the Red Cross calls Somalia the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

World Refugee Day

Since 2001, the United Nations has celebrated World Refugee Day every June 20, to draw public attention to the more than 40 million people who have been driven from their homes.

As an estimated 17.8 million residents of GI-NET's Areas of Concern have been driven from their homes by conflict, we are helping to organize a host of events to commemorate World Refugee Day and bring attention to the plight of displaced persons around the world.

For more information on how to get involved, click here.

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Spotlighted Conflict: Sudan

Situation on the Ground

Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) continued to take place in South Darfur throughout May, with fighting around the town of Oum Sa’aoun and along the highway between Al-Dha’ein and Nyala. No civilians appeared to be injured or killed in the fighting.

JEM and the SAF were also allegedly reinforcing their positions around the strategic town of Shangil Tobayi, North Darfur in the early part of May.

Cattle raiders continue to represent an ongoing threat to stability in South Sudan. The most recent incidents were reported in Lakes and Unity States.

Peace Talks Update

The Sudanese government has said that it will not participate in further peace talks with JEM and will instead seek to hold the rebel group’s leadership accountable for crimes that it has committed. 

However, Sudan will reportedly continue peace talks in June with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), a coalition of several Darfuri rebel groups.

Violent Dissatisfaction with Electoral Results

South Sudanese security forces have clashed with the supporters of at least two candidates over the results of last month’s elections. 

Throughout May, General George Athor, an unsuccessful candidate for the Jonglei State governorship, allegedly attacked SPLA positions in the southern Upper Nile and Jonglei States. Athor appears to be fighting for the removal of recently re-elected governor Kuol Manyang due to allegations of fraud and vote-rigging.
 
On May 24, the SPLA fought with supporters of parliamentary candidate David Yauyau in Jonglei State’s Pibor County. Mr. Yauyau and his supporters charged that the results of the April elections were manipulated by the SPLM. At least three combatants were killed in the fighting.

Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

On May 12, the Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In his testimony, Special Envoy Gration warned that implementation of the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is behind schedule, particularly in regard to preparations for the 2011 South Sudan independence referendum.  

Watch Special Envoy Gration’s testimony here.
 
In positive news, the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Deng Alor stated that one key CPA requirement - the demarcation of the North-South border - is approximately 80% complete.

Area of Concern: Somalia

Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called Somalia the globe’s most worrying humanitarian crisis. According to the ICRC, 3.4 million Somalis require humanitarian aid, the provision of which is complicated by the ongoing insurgency against the Somali government and inability of aid workers to operate freely within the country. 

The United Nations estimates that it cannot provide aid to nearly 1 million residents of southern Somalia due to threats against its staff.