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Education Update: Week of November 8

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Great Lakes of Africa: Burundi

Lindah Mogeni

The most recent outburst of violence in Burundi resulted in the deaths of nine people shot dead by an unknown gunman at a bar in Bujumbura. Further, a prominent right activist’s son was found dead allegedly shot by police. These killings add to the mounting death toll of 200 people since April. The discovery of bodies that show evidence of summary execution has “become a regular occurrence” in the capital.    

Over 200,000 people have fled Burundi into neighboring countries such as Rwanda, whose capital, Kigali, is an apparent safe haven for fleeing opposition and civil society activists. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, a staunch critic of Burundian President Nkurunziza, has expressed concern over the escalating violence which, he cautions, could result in a repeat of Burundi’s 1993-2006 civil war that included the genocide of over 300,000 people.

President Nkurunziza’s government has expressed an explicit intention to “resort to tough measures to stamp out resistance to his recent re-election.” Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, has expressed an equally explicit intention to exercise her mandate to punish perpetrators and instigators of large-scale violence in Burundi. Bensouda asserted that “any conduct whether by security forces, militias or any armed forces that could amount to war crimes, [including] crimes against humanity or genocide” would not go unpunished.

Residents fled their neighborhoods in the capital, especially those viewed as ‘hotbeds of anti-Nkurunziza dissent’ such as the opposition district of Mutakura wherein hundreds of soldiers and police have been deployed, following the announcement of the November 7 deadline to hand in all illegal arms and weapons or for fear of a government crackdown that would risk labelling them as enemies of the state. After the deadline expired, police began forcing disarmament by carrying out house-to-house searches for illegal weapons in opposition areas of the capital and erecting roadblocks.

Despite Burundi Police spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye’s affirmation that the police would “take all measures without breaking the law’ and ‘ensure no collateral damage,” corpses from police violence litter the capital’s streets on a daily basis. African Union chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed concern over the intensifying violence and violence-inciting statements.

Middle East and North Africa: Syria

Madeleine King

In a report sent to the 192 member states of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, UN Sources confirmed the recent use of Mustard Gas in the conflict, affecting 25 civilians. Banned internationally in 1925, Mustard Gas is considered a serious chemical weapon and its usage, production and stockpiling are illegal under international law. This is not the first time chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian conflict: in 2013, hundreds died in a sarin gas attack outside Damascus, likely at the hands of Assad’s regime. Following the 2013 attack, the Syrian regime was prompted to release all chemical weapons to the OPCW for destruction. Though OPCW has yet to determine responsibility behind these most recent attacks, it is widely speculated that ISIS is the perpetrator, as rumors of chemical arms usage have been mounting in recent months. According to the Wall Street Journal, ISIS purchased the gas back in 2013 as the regime was disposing of their chemical weapons.

After almost two weeks of non-stop ground battles, the government retook the Khanasser-Atharayya road, a highway southeast of the city of Aleppo, from ISIS. This road is a major strategic win for Assad’s regime as it controls many areas in Aleppo province and on Thursday the state has called for residents to return to the area.

After a victory around the village of al-Haul last week, the US military announced an initiative to provide additional weaponry to Syrian opposition forces battling Islamic State. This announcement comes at the same time as a USA Today report that claims that the “Train and Equip” program cost the Pentagon $2 million per trainee. Despite criticism of the effectiveness of this program, the US plans to push investment in the coming weeks, increasing arms support to the Democratic Forces of Syria.

Southeast Asia: Burma

Sophie Back

November 8, 2015 marked a historic moment for Burma, which hosted the first free elections in 25 years, potentially ousting the military regime that has controlled the country since 1962. Despite widespread disenfranchisement in the country, affected over 4 million people, including 800,000 Rohingyas, over 30 million people in Burma are eligible to vote in the elections. The world is waiting with bated breath to see whether Burma will vote for change.

Of the 6,000 candidates from 93 political parties running for positions in the regional, state, national parliaments, 2 main parties stand out as favorites: the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League of Democracy (NLD).  However, these parties face serious competition from ethnic-based parties across Burma such as Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), the Mon Nationalist Party (MNP), the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP), and the Arakan National Party (ANP) in Rakhine State. These parties are pushing for the relaxation of centralized rule and greater representation for their respective minority groups.  

The official result of the election is expected to be announced on November 22nd. However, regardless of the outcome it looks unlikely that the generals will loosen their hold on politics readily. This week Thant Myint-U, a Burmese historian and author, told the Observer that even if the NLD win a landslide victory, the generals have “crafted the constitution that includes a minimum amount of control that is acceptable to them” as 25% of seats in the National parliament are reserved for military representatives. The next president will then be decided by an all-party parliamentary vote. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the presidency, as her sons have British passports, however, she remains determined that, should her party be elected, she will become Burma’s leader.

Many doubt that the coming elections will result in any tangible change for the persecuted Rohingya.  When asked at a press conference in Yangon whether she believed the Rohingya were victims of genocide, as reported by a Yale Law school report last week, Aung San Suu Kyi replied “it is very important that we should not exaggerate the problems [faced by the Rohingya]”. She continued: “I am not saying that this is a small problem,” and promised to secure legal protection for all should she be elected. In view of the current ethnic tensions in Burma it seems that to publically speak out for the Rohingya would be political suicide. Nonetheless the majority of Rohingya communities continue to support ‘Mother Suu’ and hope that her silence over the plight of the Rohingya and other religious minorities is only temporary.

South Sudan

Jason Qu

Government representatives from the South Sudanese capital of Juba and the Ugandan Military have confirmed the complete withdrawal of Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) personnel from South Sudan. UPDF Bases in Bor, Juba,  and Nesitu are now vacated. South Sudanese military forces are occupying these facilities, with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expected to strengthen its peacekeeping force in an attempt to shore up the peace process and mechanism. Juba will oversee the deployment of a neutral force comprised of both South Sudanese army and rebel forces, according to security arrangements that were finalized two weeks ago. The removal of foreign troops, especially UPDF personnel that were deployed  to support Kiir’s government when the crisis started, has been a key demand of Machar’s rebels.

Juba and the SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) have motioned to the international community and South Sudan that the implementation of the August peace accords has seen concrete progress. Machar has reiterated a rebel commitment to peace, amidst a conference held by the opposition regarding steps towards the formation of a unified force and government, as per the August peace agreement. Documents regarding the proposed joint SPLA and SPLA-IO forces have also been released, detailing the exact proportions and numbers of troops to be deployed to Juba, as well as major cities and flashpoints like Bor. While the parties involved remain optimistic, the United Nations and observer parties say that the risk for conflict is still very real, and a United Nations report details that the rebels and government have been quietly rearming their respective forces.

SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar, and a number of other rebel leaders and commanders are expected to return to Juba in mid-November. A team will be deployed in advance and remain in Juba but Machar, who will be accompanied with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, will only remain for one day. This comes as security arrangements and the August peace agreement have been finalized, which will create a 30 month transitional government that shares power between Machar and Kier, and seeks to end almost 3 years of civil war. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will end its observer mission in South Sudan, and be replaced by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (JMEC) which will oversee the implementation of the peace deal.

Despite positive indicators towards a rising peace in South Sudan, a number of obstacles remain that could threaten to draw the country back into full-scale civil war. The African Union Report released last week details atrocities committed by both sides, and reports there was no evidence of a coup despite allegations from President Kiir, which he used as justification to arrest and discharge key Nuer political figures. has the potential to threaten peace in South Sudan. Nuer officials have urged calm among those of the Nuer tribe as mass atrocities, including rape and cannibalism have been detailed in the report, to have been committed by the SPLA against Nuer civilians. Another obstacle is allegations from factions of the SPLA-IO that the South Sudanese Army has violated the ceasefire by continuing to launch offensives on rebel positions. The fragile August agreement has seen countless similar violations since its signing, and many remain unsure whether or not it will hold, even given new progress being made.

Also, a unilateral move by President Kier to expand South Sudan’s 10 states to 28, with his office being allowed to appoint the 18 governors, has been officially rejected by the SPLM-IO, with the opposition saying that this could prevent the August peace accords from being implemented, as the agreement included details regarding ten jurisdictions not 28 and many opposition figures say the executive order was unconstitutional. Nevertheless, Juba signalled recently that they would continue to implement the expansion of states, despite opposition from domestic and international organizations, with the proposal receives mixed reactions from tribes, depending on how tribal lines would fall with state lines. A UN report reiterated claims that Juba going through with this plan would undermine the peace mechanism that has been put into place.

 

Sudan: Darfur

Jason Qu

Second Sudanese Vice President Hasabo Abdel-Rahman has said that he would reject any referendum regarding Darfur, which would decide between the states of Darfur becoming one single semi-autonomous authority or the status quo. The Vice President asserts that this could create more tension because a single region of Darfur could inspire it to declare its independence – with a federal solution , that extends Khartoum’s influence throughout Darfur and provides for limited local self-rule, being the only permanent way to achieve a permanent in Darfur. These comments also come as the Sudanese National Assembly continues to remain extremely divided over whether or not to allow said referendum.

A health crisis is sweeping Darfur, reflecting the vulnerable humanitarian situation in the region as whooping cough is currently sweeping North Darfur, with hundreds of cases confirmed within the last month. West Darfur is seeing a spate of new cases of haemorrhagic fever as well. Although quality medical services are absent throughout much of Sudan, these areas in Darfur are especially vulnerable due to ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region, despite international and governmental intervention.

The Sudanese Armed Forces has restated that it is ready to halt offensive operations in areas where an SRF and Sudanese ceasefire have been declared, within Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan. This comes at a time when SPLM-North, a key rebel organization in Sudan and member of the SRF, has accused the Sudanese Army of violating a temporary ceasefire in Blue Nile State. The army has stated that it would be prepared to defend against any rebel movements or offensives, even with a ceasefire in place. However, commanders of troops stationed in the region underscore a readiness to abide by the ceasefire under normal circumstances. These new clashes coincide with a warning from local farmers in South Darfur directed at nomadic camel herders to not graze on their land before the harvest, demonstrating that despite increased efforts towards peace, both sides continue to distrust one another, potentially reigniting intercommunal fighting.

Get to know the 2015-2016 Education Task Force

Ruhi Bhaidani serves as Central and West Africa Conflict Coordinator, and has been a STAND member for over four years. As president of her high school’s STAND for Peace club, she organized a concert to draw attention to ongoing genocidal violence around the world. Ruhi is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

Education Update: Week of November 1

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Central and West Africa: Central African Republic

Ruhi Bhaidani

Pope Francis’ visit to Central African Republic scheduled for the end of this month may be pushed back due to recent violence in the country. On November 2, men from the predominantly Muslim PK-5 neighborhood attacked Bangui, causing hundreds of people to flee their homes. United Nations Peacekeepers had been stationed in PK-5 for years to address the high number of Muslims driven out of the neighborhood due to threats from anti-Balaka groups. In the attack, homes were set on fire, five people were killed, and more than a dozen were wounded.

The president of Central African Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza, responded to the violence by stating that U.N. Peacekeepers had failed to stop the cycle of violence in CAR and called on the United Nations, as well as the International Criminal Court, to sanction political leaders responsible for the violence. Samba-Panza has also demanded that the U.N. mission return arms and weapons confiscated from the army to restore peace to the CAR. Both the Pope’s visit to CAR and the upcoming elections were meant to be unifying moments for the country.

The national elections have also been set back until December 13, and the constitutional referendum scheduled for October will not be held on December 6. The aforementioned push-backs have been due to ongoing violence in the nation. Although the election process has been pushed back, many fear that it is being rushed and that the CAR is still not ready for elections, despite the urging of the international community to end the transitional government. Although Samba-Panza supports the elections, last month the president of the National Electoral Authority, Dieudonne Kombo Yaya, resigned due to too much pressure from both Samba-Panza and the international community.

While the upcoming national elections face several threats, the greatest concerns are security-related. The Central Africa analyst for the International Crisis Group, Thibaud Lesueur, warned in an interview that “If the vote is held now it may not be inclusive. In fact, it could be dangerous and could fuel further instability.” There have also been delays in voter registration in the CAR as many people lack official documentation and displacement camps do not have a complete registration process.

 

Great Lakes of Africa: Burundi

Lindah Mogeni

Burundian President, Pierre Nkurunziza, set a five-day deadline (November 7) on November 2 this week, for Burundians to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms in response to clashes between police and gunmen in the capital. Non-adherence, he assured, will result in being labelled as criminals and ‘prosecuted according to the anti-terrorism law’ whereas compliance will be rewarded with patriotic education training and reunification with their families. President Nkurunziza further urged the police to restore peace and ensure security in Bujumbura.

An immediate and internationally mediated dialogue has been called for by the US special envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes region, Thomas Perriello, to resolve the escalating Burundi crisis which he described as a political, humanitarian and security crisis.

Perriello iterated the importance of the Burundian government’s participation in the dialogue absent preconditions and urged the Burundian government to ‘commit to a good-faith, inclusive dialogue in which all Burundians are represented, including those who fled the country to escape persecution or violence. The African Union also called for an inclusive dialogue between the Burundian government and opposition groups to be held in any capital around Africa. President Nkurunziza recently signed a decree to form a commission tasked with facilitating ‘inter-Burundi’ dialogue. According to Burundi’s Foreign Minister, Alain Nyamitwe, the National Commission for Inter-Burundian dialogue provides an ideal platform for Burundians to speak on the crisis.

The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights was tasked with investigating and submitting a report of any alleged violations of human rights and other abuses against Burundi. Nyamitwe has expressed the government’s willingness to co-operate with the investigation but frowns upon the use of sanctions to that would undermine mediation efforts.

A speech by Senate speaker Reverien Ndikuriyo, a senior member of President Nkurunziza’s ruling party, calling on the ruling youth militia party to “get to work,” has been widely condemned by international observers and governments in part due to its similarity to hate speech that incited the killing of Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Prior to and during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, the popular radio station RTLM, which was responsible for inciting Hutus to take violence collective action against Tutsis, is similarly remembered for announcing: “”You have to work harder, the graves are not full.” Some fear that Ndikuriyo’s speech is a harbinger for government-sanctioned violence. The United Nations and the U.S. have expressed concern over the speech, and according to UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, the UK is concerned about the threat of genocide.

 

Southeast Asia: Burma

Sophie Back

On October 29, the Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School published a report which presented strong evidence of genocide, perpetrated by the Burmese State, against the Rohingya population. The report urged the United Nations to take immediate action and to form a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the allegations of genocide further, and to decide on an appropriate course of action.  The report claims that the Rohingya are facing the ‘last stages of genocide’ and that their experiences of ethnic cleansing are consistent with the definitions of genocide set out in the UN Inquiries into the Yugoslavian and Rwandan atrocities.

In reaction to this report, Penny Green, Professor of Law and Globalization Queen Mary University, told Newsweek “It’s really important to construct genocide as a social process, because if we don’t, we can never intervene before mass killing takes place.” She also warned that the elections pose an added threat to Rohingya communities as they “reinforce the elimination of the Rohingya from the political realm of responsibility of Myanmar.”

Voting has been cancelled in two more townships in the Shan state, which has been subject to regional disenfranchisement in recent weeks over alleged security threats. In Wanhai, violence over the Shan State’s exclusion from the elections has intensified, forcing 6,000 villagers to flee from their homes. Such violence has heightened fears of instability in the run up to the elections and triggered a sharp rise in police terror.

Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on President Thein Sein for an amnesty for political prisoners prior to the election. Currently 100 political prisoners are in detention in Burma with 471 more awaiting trial. In recent weeks, authorities have begun to release political prisoners in exchange for information, however, many lawmakers doubt whether an amnesty will be granted to allow prisoners to vote for change.

A US-based observation mission conducted by the Carter Center has unearthed several flaws in the voting process. These include restrictions over political space, vote-buying regional disenfranchisement and limited access to advance votes. The mission also reported 94 instances of political intimidation, including 5 physical attacks against members of opposition party the NLD. In addition to these assaults, NLD Parliamentarian Naing Ngan Lin was attacked by three men with machetes while canvassing in Yangon on Thursday night. Naing, suffered serious lesions to his legs and face but his condition has stabilized. Burmese state police have arrested the attackers whose motives remain unknown. The Election Commission is yet to comment on the incident but all parties are on high alert fearing further violence in the final week before Election Day.

 

South Sudan

Jason Qu

On October 29, after three days of captivity by South Sudanese rebels, 18 United Nations peacekeepers were released. These peacekeepers were traveling with 13 civilian UN contractors, as they moved a fuel barge on the Nile River, from Juba to Upper Nile State, when they were was surrounded by over 100 rebels. Once aboard the barge, rebels seized 55,000 liters of fuel along with peacekeepers’ weapons, and captured onboard personnel. the rebels claiming that said UN personnel were flying a confusing flag, and they presumed they were delivering munitions to government forces. Unlike the peacekeepers, the contractors were still detained by the rebels for an additional three days before their release. The UN has played a constant role in South Sudan since the civil war began by providing security for refugees, delivering aid, and assisting in the peace process.

As peace negotiations move forward between South Sudanese Vice-President Machar and President Kiir, sporadic fighting is still occurring throughout South Sudan, most notably in Unity State. Oil-rich Unity State remains a center of conflict, with recent accusations coming from the Nuer community that South Sudanese Army personnel killed at least 140 civilians in Leer County. NGOs have said ongoing violence is displacing thousands. A total of 2 million South Sudanese have been displaced, preventing easy delivery of aid.

A new rebel group known as the Tiger Faction New Forces has emerged in South Sudan under the command of General Yoanes Oki. The group refuses to lay down its arms until President Kiir rescinds a controversial executive order to expand South Sudan’s 10 states to 28. This move has been met with fierce opposition from IGAD and the SPLM-IO, due to an argument that it violates the Constitution and risks the collapse of the August Peace Accords. Opposition parties have agreed to form an alliance to oppose the executive order and bring it the Supreme Court, but critics also say that any ruling could be biased as the President of the Supreme Court has already declared his support for the plan to create new states.

The African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan has published a finalized and full report regarding atrocities committed in Juba when the crisis in the nation began. The African Union asserts that in December 2013, there was no evidence of a coup despite allegations from President Kiir that Machar was trying to overthrow the South Sudanese government. In the report, there are allegations that Kiir raised a militia not affiliated with the Army or Presidential Guard to commit acts of violence that were coordinated by the government, against civilians affiliated with the Nuer tribe. Both sides have been accused of indiscriminate violence, rape, cannibalism, looting, and the use of child soldiers. The SPLM-IO welcomed the report but the government dismissed allegations of state-supported massacres. The United Nations Human Rights Council have also deployed personnel this week in order to investigate human rights violations during the civil war.

The SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has signed an agreement on October 26th, to finalize portions of the fragile August peace agreement that pertain to security matters. This is an important step towards the integration of Machar’s rebel forces and the South Sudanese military. The placement of certain security forces under the administration of Juba as well as foreign militaries, in major cities like Juba or Bor, have contributed significantly to mistrust between the rebels and government. These security provisions would allow for the capital to be demilitarized in favor of a small, joint police force composed of South Sudanese military members and rebels. SPLM-IO leader Machar is expected to be granted return to Juba as part of the agreement. Though distribution of forces remains unclear, an ongoing Ugandan withdrawal, renewed commitment to peace on both sides, and an order from Juba to prohibit security forces from wearing uniforms or carrying assault rifles in the city are all positive measures towards peace.

 

Sudan: Darfur

Jason Qu

On November 1, UNAMID saw a leadership change as Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi was appointed UN Joint Special Representative for Darfur and UNAMID head. Since the beginning of the UNAMID mission, Khartoum has consistently called for its withdrawal, and now, as the situation in Darfur has gotten more stable, some Sudanese officials accuse UNAMID personnel of being inaccurate in depictions of life in Darfur so that they can justify their presence and preserve their salaries. The African Union has also declared its intention to renew talks with Khartoum regarding the withdrawal of AU forces from the mission, a request that the Sudanese Government has been making for two years. This comes amidst a controversy surrounding a refusal from Sudan to allow rations to pass through Port Sudan to UNAMID. The controversy has since been resolved.

On October 27, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met with Darfuri refugee leaders currently taking shelter in Eastern Chad, regarding a voluntary repatriation program that would help send back and resettle 300,000 refugees to Sudan. The leader of Ouloum refugee camp, among other elders and camp leaders, have stated that there can not be any repatriation or return to Darfur until certain conditions regarding security, rule of law, and the disarmament of Arab militias that have committed egregious acts of violence against civilians, are met. Nonetheless, it appears that if authorities are unable to find a viable solution to a repatriation program, life for 300,000 Darfuri refugees will become significantly more difficult as Chadian food rations for them are expected to end in 2016.

The National Assembly of Sudan, the country’s legislature, remains extremely polarized regarding the issue of a referendum in Darfur over its status as individual states, or one autonomous state, as cited in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. Many Sudanese officials claim that this referendum would be extremely costly and could once again politically destabilize Darfur. However, the National Assembly remains united in a call for the deployment of a security force and police to cover all of Darfur, but this could create a tense new situation, as Sudanese rebel groups agreed to a ceasefire in favor of negotiations before security forces can be deployed throughout Darfur. An assertion of Khartoum’s power could break a burgeoning peace in the region, after years of brutal conflict.

 

Middle East and North Africa: Syria

Maddie King

On October 30, representatives of key external actors in the Syrian conflict, including Russia, Turkey, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, gathered in Vienna to work towards creating peace and stability in the region, focusing in particular on the possibility of enforcing a nationwide ceasefire. The focus of the conference was structuring how Syria might begin the political process of rebuilding Syria. This process, which leaders hope the United Nations and Syrians of all parties would support, would aim to create a new constitution and hold an election facilitated by the UN with participation from all Syrian nationals, including refugees.

Another key focus of the conference was international action in regards to terrorism. Russian delegates emphasized that terrorist groups should be exempt from a potential ceasefire and military action aimed at the defeat of terrorist organizations, especially ISIS, should continue to be a priority of the international community, arguing that a political solution to the conflict will be difficult to achieve before the power of terrorism and extremism are decreased.

On the tail of the meeting, the United States announced that it will deploy 50 special forces troop to advise moderate opposition in Syria. These troops would be concentrated in northern Syria where Syrian Kurdish forces are leading the fight against ISIS.

Finally, this week marks the first full month of Russian air strike campaign in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights notes that these air strikes have killed nearly 600 people, a third of which are civilians.

 

Get to know the 2015-2016 Education Task Force

Ruhi Bhaidani serves as Central and West Africa Conflict Coordinator, and has been a STAND member for over four years. As president of her high school’s STAND for Peace club, she organized a concert to draw attention to ongoing genocidal violence around the world. Ruhi is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

Education Update: Week of October 25

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Central and West Africa: Central African Republic

Ruhi Bhaidani

On Monday, three senior members of the Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC), a moderate faction of the Séléka rebel group, were abducted after partaking in peace talks in Bangui with interim government. “Four members of the [Séléka] delegation went to the base of the French peacekeeping force this morning. They were returning in a taxi when they were ambushed,” said General Mohamed Dhaffane, head of the UPC. One delegate managed to escape with serious injuries. It is feared that attacks such as these, particularly those targeting moderate players, could affect the planned presidential elections. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. This attack is one of many following a bout of violence in the capital after the death of a Muslim taxi motorcyclist on September 26.

Human Rights Watch conducted a series of interviews between October 7 and 13 and found that at least 31 civilians were murdered in that week alone. According to Human Rights Watch, “some of the victims were burned in their homes or in places where they sought shelter. The victims included nine women – one of them eight-months pregnant – and four elderly men. Human Rights Watch confirmed eight other cases in which the victims were armed men.” Several houses have also been looted and destroyed and many have fled the violence. Human Rights Watch reports that “prior to the violence and chaos that have gripped the Central African Republic since March 2013, 122,000 Muslims lived in the capital. Only an estimated 15,000 remain.” Although UN forces are in place in CAR, many have reported that they have not done much to stop the violence.

On October 22, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator called for greater and more sustained international commitment to CAR, where there are 400,000 people internally displaced, 454,000 refugees in neighboring countries, and more than half of the country’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance. Stephen O’Brien, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs released $12 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support those affected by violence in CAR.

Great Lakes of Africa: Burundi

Lindah Mogeni

Reporters Without Borders supports a torture complaint filed in Burundi’s Supreme Court of Justice by Radio France Internationale and Agence France-Presse regarding Burundian correspondent, Esdras Ndikumana, who was beaten and tortured after being arrested in Bujumbura in August. They report that the “lack of substantial progress in the investigation into this attack is typical of the current climate of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists and media outlets in Burundi.”

Great Lakes of Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lindah Mogeni                                                                            

MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in DRC, marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nations with a day of reflection, assessing the security and humanitarian improvements in North Kivu over the past decade. MONUSCO paid tribute to fallen blue helmets and UN personnel in the region and explained the role and mandate of MONUSCO and other UN agencies in DRC to the 100 attendees. Furthermore, an evaluation of the UN’s impact on life in North Kivu by several actors and social representatives, indicates that UN presence has strengthened the development, peace, and human rights sectors in the region.

Olivier Peke Kaliaki, head of the Walendu Bindi community in Ituri province, appealed to former inhabitants of the region, many of whom are displaced, to return to their villages following a joint mission by MONUSCO and FARDC (the armed forces of DRC). Kaliaki reassured the community that FRPI (Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri) combatants have been quelled and that their banditry will not hinder the return of the IDPs. To the contrary, IDP sites are often inaccessible to FARDC troops and are at risk of providing night shelter to FRPI militia. The IDPs have conditioned their return on FARDC deployment to their villages, where FRPI militia are still present.

Middle East and North Africa: Syria

Maddie King

Russian airstrikes continue in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama, where local aid groups report that at least seven hospitals and medical facilities have been hit by airstrikes since Russia entered the conflict. Evidence points to Russian involvement in these attacks, although specifics have yet to be confirmed.

After a meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Monarch King Salman, the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to intensify support to Syria’s moderate opposition as well as increase efforts in finding a political solution for the conflict. Leaders from Britain, France, and Spain have also spoken out about the conflict recently, announcing that state leaders will present a draft resolution to the UN Security Council by the end of the month demanding an end to the usage of barrel bombs by the Syrian regime.

A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad met in Moscow to discuss the current situation in Syria, Putin indicated to reporters that Assad may be willing to work with rebel groups to fight against the Islamic State. Assad’s office has not yet released a statement in response to Putin’s comments.

Last Wednesday, the US-led coalition to fight ISIS launched its largest strike since the campaign began almost a year ago. Coalition jets hit 26 targets, including ISIS-controlled oil refineries, and command and central control centers in Syria’s Omar oil field. This move marks a shift in strategy for the campaign, which is attempting to target the group’s revenue sources.

On Thursday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed concern that increased conflict in the Syrian province of Aleppo—where Russian airstrikes have concentrated attacks— may lead to an influx of Syrian refugees to Turkey. A coordinator at the Humanitarian Relief Foundation speculated that thousands of refugees have left Aleppo for the Turkish border in recent weeks.

Last week, the World Health Organization flagged the death of a young child in Aleppo province as a “suspected case” of Cholera after initial tests proved positive. Coming after a Cholera outbreak in Iraq, this event has sparked fear of a potentially international threat due to the debilitated medical infrastructure in Syria and the high level of mobility among the largely displaced population.

Southeast Asia: Burma

Sophie Back

Last Wednesday fighting broke out between government troops and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) (the armed wing of Shan State Progressive Party) in Mongshu Township, Shan State. The SSA-N claim that the Burmese army opened fire on their community to suppress civil unrest after an election official announced that polling for the general election will not take place in the area if insurgent violence continues. Also on Wednesday, 4 people were reportedly injured by the explosion of a roadside bomb in Mongshu. It is currently unclear whether the two events are related. Violent tensions between the SSA-N and state troops have been building since October 6, with sporadic outbreaks of fighting in Mongshu and neighbouring areas. Since then, 3,000 civilians have been displaced. The government crackdown has caused fear of violent resistance to state rule in the election period, and recent fighting has only intensified concerns.

Security measures have intensified with the creation of a 40,000 person Special Police Force for the election period. These forces will be in charge of guarding polling stations and neutralizing any unrest that the elections may inspire. The new Special Force will involve twice as many police personnel as were used at the last election. However Police Colonel Thaung Win, deputy chief of the Mon State Police Force, has promised that the Special Force will be neutral in the elections. Speaking at the opening day of the Special Police training course in Ye Township, Thaung announced, “We must stand on the side of the state…We have no right to tell people to vote for which [candidate] and which party.” However, political freedoms remain strongly restricted in Burma and the U.S. Congress is maintaining a critical view on Burma’s use of police coercion and corruption as, this week, Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. and other lawmakers criticized Burma for its “systematically manipulated democratic transition.”

Thailand has come under increasing scrutiny over its inhumane treatment of Rohingya refugees. An article published by the Diplomat wrote that Thailand’s attempt to ‘push back’ the tides of refugees arriving on its coasts has created an ‘atrocity’ in itself. A report published by Amnesty International this week, Deadly Journeys: The refugee and trafficking crisis in Southeast Asia, also condemned the Thai and Indonesian governments for failure to ensure the safety of migrants. The report called for greater cooperation between the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) states, and increased support from the international community to help with search and rescue initiatives and provisions for refugees.

South Sudan

Jason Qu

Aid agencies and NGOs working in South Sudan have reported 80 civilians killed by SPLA forces in the month of October in a county of Unity State. Leer County, a flashpoint in oil-rich Unity State, has seen a dramatic rise in fighting and tensions between the South Sudanese Government and rebels, despite the ceasefire. The SPLA-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), the armed wing of the primary South Sudanese opposition, has accused the government of launching a new offensive in Unity State earlier this week, in direct violation of the ceasefire outlined in the August peace agreement. It should be noted that Leer County, Unity State, is also the hometown of SPLA-IO leader Riek Machar.

Direct talks between the South Sudanese Government and the opposition regarding security matters, as well as outstanding portions of the August peace agreement, were held in Addis Ababa on Monday. The rebels agreed to sign onto the minutes regarding security matters, as well as the minutes of permanent ceasefire. According to these agreements, the SPLM and SPLM-IO will share troops and joint patrols, especially in key sites such as the capital, Juba. The chief mediator of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said “the two sides in the conflict will continue to discuss security arrangements until they have ironed out their differences.”

Despite a pledge to remove all Ugandan troops from South Sudanese soil by October 10, the Uganda People’s Defence forces (UPDF) is only now withdrawing from the country. The UPDF was deployed to South Sudan after civil war began and President Kiir requested support. As such, the removal of all foreign troops from South Sudan, including the UPDF, was a key demand from the opposition during peace negotiations. Although IGAD initially reported no movement of UPDF troops in South Sudan, it has been confirmed that Ugandan forces have moved out of Bor, the capital of South Sudan’s Jonglei state. Despite progress, all eyes are on Juba and UPDF troops, as the August peace agreement called for the demilitarization of the capital in favor of a neutral force.

Sudan: Darfur

Jason Qu

The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has confirmed that the Sudanese government has begun releasing crucial food rations and other supplies, which were withheld for the past week. The restriction of these rations had been a source of new tension between Khartoum and UNAMID. The United Nations condemned the government while Sudan claimed that UNAMID failed to follow Sudanese protocol for the clearance of the containers and the issuance of visas. UNAMID’s peacekeeping activities in Sudan have been met with sharp criticism from Khartoum ever since their mission began in 2007, and Sudanese President Bashir’s Government has consistently called for its withdrawal.

On October 18, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), one of the largest rebel alliances in Sudan, declared a six-month ceasefire in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The Sudanese Government has also declared a two-month ceasefire in these same areas. The declarations of ceasefires have been met with praise from the international community, such as the United States, but calls are still being made for the Sudanese Government to extend their ceasefire by an additional five months to match SRF commitments. President Bashir has also announced his government’s intention to create a permanent ceasefire, if rebel organizations demonstrate a commitment to a peace negotiation.

SPLM-North, a key member of the SRF and one of Sudan’s most active rebel organizations, extended an invitation to the Sudanese Government for peace talks to be held on November 2 in Addis Ababa. Talks stalled in December of last year, and a national dialogue conference, held in early October, was boycotted by dozens of opposition parties and rebel organizations. However, Khartoum has accepted this recent offer for peace talks. The negotiations will be mediated by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel, and will only include talks on Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. Darfur will not be included. The AU mediation teams are still deciding on an agenda for the meeting, and the SPLM-N has said they will not settle for anything less than an inclusive political agreement. The status of future peace talks between Khartoum and other rebel organizations such as the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) remain unclear.

Get to know the 2015-2016 Education Task Force

Ruhi Bhaidani serves as Central and West Africa Conflict Coordinator, and has been a STAND member for over four years. As president of her high school’s STAND for Peace club, she organized a concert to draw attention to ongoing genocidal violence around the world. Ruhi is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

Education Update: Week of October 18

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Central and West Africa: Central African Republic

Ruhi Bhaidani

In addition to violence in Bangui, the proposed political process under the interim government of Catherine Samba-Panza has been further destabilized. Samba-Panza’s efforts to ensure a smooth election were stymied this week when “armed groups and politicians in Central African Republic boycotted the start of a political forum.” Election discussions began on October 13, but have since been postponed due to the armed opposition and boycott of the event by about 10 of the 50 political parties scheduled to participate, on the grounds of “political fraud.”

The United Nations reports that on October 18, seven UN police were attacked and illegally detained by armed men, allegedly associated with anti-Balaka forces. Although the police were freed the same night, their equipment and weapons were taken away from them by their captors, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. This week, three unidentified men fired upon another UN agency, the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA), based near Bangui. Peacekeepers responded by killing one assailant and seizing several weapons.

Violence and discord within CAR increased on Sunday, October 18, when anti-Balaka forces kidnapped the vice president. CAR’s National Transitional Council Vice President, Léa Koyassoum Doumta, was abducted as she was coming home from a funeral near Bangui. She was released after two hours of negotiation with a list of demands for the government. Later on Sunday, the militias kidnapped six Central African gendarmes. The anti-Balakas demanded, among several other demands, the release of many people arrested last week. The International Criminal Court is continuing an investigation on war crimes by both Séléka and anti-Balaka forces.

 

Great Lakes of Africa: Burundi

Lindah Mogeni

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the murder of 11 people in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. Of those killed, nine were civilians, one of whom was a staff member for the International Organization for Migration, and the remaining two were police officers. The Secretary-General further appealed to Burundian authorities to investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The United Nations denotes that Burundi is in the midst of a dour post-civil war political crisis after its president, Pierre Nkurunziza, decided to run for a controversial third term in April of this year. This action has been widely regarded as unconstitutional by the opposition, civil society, and sections of his own party, as well as “contrary to the spirit of the 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi” that ended Burundi’s civil war in 2006.

Since President Nkurunziza’s “non-inclusive and non-consensual” re-election in July, the crisis has escalated with frequent police-targeted attacks by the opposition and summary executions by the Nkurunziza government. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has registered an estimated 130 killings and hundreds of cases of arbitrary arrest and detention in Burundi since April.

The African Union (AU) announced its decision to launch an investigation into rights abuses and called for “targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes,” against all Burundian stakeholders whose actions and statements contribute to the perpetuation of violence and impede the search for a solution. Moreover, the AU’s Peace and Security Council is considering a contingency plan that involves deploying an African-led Mission to curb the spread of violence in the country.

United States Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Thomas Perriello, reiterated the frequency of ongoing abuses in Burundi and further expressed the United States’ concern for the safety of journalists and state of the media. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), joined by its affiliate Union Burundaise des Journalistes, shared this concern as they condemned the execution of a cameraman named Christophe Nkezabahizi, his wife, and two children.

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) also condemned the acts of violence and has emphasized its steadfast cooperation with the mediation process led by Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni. The ICGLR urges that all parties involved in the process adhere to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, as well as the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

 

Middle East and North Africa: Syria

Maddie King

This week there has been a massive escalation of foreign involvement in Syria, with an increase in support for Assad against growing terror threats. Russian airstrikes continue in Damascus, Idlib, Dier Ezzor, Aleppo and Hama, though they have declined in the past few days in favor of heightened ground assaults. Russia has also moved to establish an information-sharing mechanism with Israel to explore the potential for future cooperation, and has met with Saudi Arabian leaders with the goal of cooperation in preventing the establishment of a terrorist caliphate. Simultaneously, hundreds of Iranian troops have been deployed in Syria to work in conjunction with Hezbollah’s ground presence in the region. Like the Russian campaign, the Iranian military campaign has focused its action in regions in northern and central Syria, rather than Eastern Syria, where ISIS’ presence is most concentrated. Finally, the leader of the Cuban military visited Syria this week, leading to widespread speculation that Cuba will begin providing aid and military support to Assad’s regime in the near future.

In response to this increase of foreign involvement, the European Union has raised sanctions against Assad’s regime and called on Russia to end its current military campaign. The United States has decided to terminate its failed $500 million program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels in favor of increasing military support to established units, including the Kurdish YPG militia, which recently entered a new coalition with Syrian Arab groups in order to fight the Islamic State in northern Syria. The Kurdish YPG militia has consistently proven one of the most successful ground forces against the emergence of ISIS, however, a report released by Amnesty International on October 13 indicates that the group may have been involved in war crimes in a campaign actively displacing the area’s local Arab population.

In Aleppo, fighting has intensified between ISIS, government forces, and rebel groups to establish control in the region, concentrated in the towns of Ahras and Tel Jabin. ISIS continues to lay siege on a state airbase near Aleppo, and Aleppo is likely to remain a highly contested area over the next few weeks.

 

Southeast Asia: Burma

Sophie Back

Violence persists in Kachin state despite Myanmar’s much-anticipated peace treaty, which was signed this Thursday with eight minority insurgent groups. The Kachin Independence Army, and other major insurgent groups in the north were conspicuously absent at the televised signing of the treaty this week. Despite talks of election postponement on Tuesday, the elections are set to go ahead as scheduled, though election officials announced that polls will not be held in areas beyond government control.

Tens of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remain in Kachin Province following the outbreak of fighting in June, however the Myanmar state continues to block United Nations agencies from providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities. This week, a fact-finding mission conducted by the ASEAN Parliamentarians on Human Rights (APHR) demanded that the Myanmar government allow for the provision of basic rights and aid to IDPs throughout Burma. APHR, which includes parliamentarians from Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, reiterated its support for the Myanmar government in conducting “free and fair” elections in November. The mission also reported that though the potential for intercommunal violence in Rakhine province remains acute, ethnic segregation enforced by the Burmese government is unwarranted and has led to the “entrenchment of divisions between Buddhist and Muslim communities and should be addressed immediately.”

As the monsoon season draws to a close and the Bay of Bengal-Andaman Sea route to Southeast Asia reopens, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has predicted a new surge in “irregular” migration from the shores of Western Burma. In the first half of 2015, 31,000 people had been trafficked along this route, representing a 34% increase from the previous year’s figure. Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, told Guardian Australia that “this [upward] trend is likely to continue unless the root causes are addressed.”

Human Rights experts from The Arakan Project and Fortify Rights warn that measures to dismantle trafficking routes have merely disrupted them. There are currently 140,000 internally displaced Rohingya people living in Rakhine state and approximately 2,500 Bangladeshi and Rohingya people in detention or in shelters in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In Bangladesh, 200,000 refugees are reported to be living in unofficial camps. In light of Malaysia’s open-door policy for Rohingya refugees, neighbouring states have turned to either detaining migrants or, as is increasingly the case, aiding them in their passage to Malaysia rather than ensuring the safety of migrants in existing refugee camps.

 

South Sudan

Jason Qu

On October 12, the Ugandan Government declared that they would begin a full withdrawal of Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) troops from South Sudan; the number of troops estimate in the thousands, with no specific figures available. This withdrawal of not only UPDF forces, but all foreign troops, was a key demand from Riek Machar and the opposition as part of the shaky Compromise that concluded in August. Uganda deployed troops into South Sudan in 2013 as a response to a request from President Salva Kiir as the country descended into civil war. Although the UPDF was supposed to begin withdrawing, there have been no signs of movement of said troops, according to IGAD’s Monitoring and Verification Mechanism for South Sudan. Juba has cited that key portions of the August agreement have yet to be signed, and until they are, a guarantee can not be made for the withdrawal of foreign forces. The opposition led by former Vice President Machar retorted that the signing of that particular section of the agreement was not a prerequisite for UPDF withdrawal.

On October 16, President Kiir, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), has announced that all leadership positions in the SPLM be vacated, except for his position as Chairman. Kiir declared that these positions would be filled within a month’s time, which coincides with a SPLM convention that is expected to be attended by SPLM supporters loyal to the president. SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) leader Riek Machar says that this move will undermine the August peace deal, which called for unity between the factions of the SPLM. The aforementioned SPLM convention would take place before the deadline for a unity government passes, which means that opposition SPLM factions such as Machar’s will likely not be present.

A spate of new violence continues to sweep across South Sudan, with Unity State and Warrap State as flashpoints for fighting this week. Earlier this week in Warrap State, 90 people were reported to have been killed and 144 injured in intercommunal land disputes between the Luacjang and Ananatak communities, which lasted until the South Sudanese Army intervened. This new fighting represents the fragile ethnic and clan-based lines that shape South Sudan and contribute significantly, among many other factors, to its instability, both within and outside the context of the civil war. Unity State, which is an oil-rich region, has often been the site of combat between the rebels and the SPLA since late 2013 when the crisis in South Sudan began. Hundreds of thousands are displaced within Unity State, and remain out of reach of food assistance and medical care.

On October 16, Justice and President of the South Sudan Supreme Court, Chan Reec Madut declared his support for President Salva Kiir’s executive order to increase the number of states in South Sudan from 10 to 28. The announcement comes before legal challenges to said order are due to appear before the Supreme Court. Legal challenges are expected to be raised by the SPLM-IO and other Sudanese civil society groups, and the move has been condemned by international bodies such as the EU and IGAD. Opponents of the move declare that it is in violation of the South Sudanese Transitional Constitution and would throw a wrench in peace negotiations, whose conditions are based on the existing 10 states. Rebel leader Oloni of the Shilluk militia threatened to take up arms again if the executive order is not reversed. In reaction to fury from the opposition–especially since a key demand of the rebels in the August peace deal was judicial reform to ensure neutrality–Justice Madut denied any partisan motivations behind his statement of support for the President’s executive order. Instead, he stated that he believes the order will give local bodies more power in terms of governance, social services, etc.

 

Sudan: Darfur

Jason Qu

The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of the SPLM-North and other rebel groups in Sudan, fears a split after disagreements between key members regarding the SRF Presidency. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), as well as their respective factions, supported a transition of SRF leadership to JEM leader Jibril Ibrahim, but the SPLM-N and its allies claim that reforms need to be made with voting procedures before any effective change in leadership can occur. SPLM-N Spokesman Mubarak Ardol refuted reports about the change in leadership, claiming they had not been officiated by the SRF. This dispute could divide one of Sudan’s largest and most organized umbrella rebel organizations, which would have significant impacts on their ability to negotiate with Khartoum as a united body.

Recent reports have surfaced that the Sudanese Government has been denying food rations and containers to UNAMID peacekeepers. Although Sudan has been met with criticism from the UN regarding this action, the Sudanese Government defends their position, claiming that UNAMID officials have failed to comply with customs requirements for the food containers and that their actions are in accordance with Sudanese law. This also comes as Sudanese Government and Sudanese representatives to the United Nations have been calling for the end of the UNAMID mission, and discussing withdrawal dates with the United Nations Security Council. The Sudanese government claims that communal fighting is under control, and that funds from the expensive UNAMID mission could be diverted for greater development in Sudan.

The week-long National Dialogue Conference that was launched on October 10 in Khartoum, but boycotted by dozens of rebel organizations, international bodies, and political organizations, resulted in a number of pledges for new reforms and legislation by President Bashir, ranging from judicial reform to improving economic transparency within Sudan. He also pledged a commitment to a referendum on the status of Darfur, scheduled for April 2016, which will decide whether the five states that make up Darfur will formally become one autonomous region. His pledge also includes a one-year extension of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. Rebel groups are concerned about statements that pledge the deployment of more Sudanese security forces across Sudan, and the extension of full government authority throughout the entire country. Nevertheless, the SRF has declared its intention to sign a ceasefire if the Sudanese Government pledges its commitment to AU-facilitated peace talks.

Get to know the 2015-2016 Task Force

Ruhi Bhaidani serves as Central and West Africa Conflict Coordinator, and has been a STAND member for over four years. As president of her high school’s STAND for Peace club, she organized a concert to draw attention to ongoing genocidal violence around the world. Ruhi is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

Education Update: Week of October 11

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Central and West Africa: Central African Republic

Ruhi Bhaidani

Although it seemed as if some progress had been made in Central African Republic (CAR) under the interim government of Catherine Samba-Panza and the new constitution passed by the transitional council, fears of escalating violence have once again shaken the nation to its core. On September 26, at least 37 people were killed in the capital, Bangui, and several more wounded. The fighting began after the body of a motorcycle-taxi driver was discovered on the night of the 26th with anti-Muslim slogans inscribed on his dead body. Though many Muslims have fled CAR fearing violence from the Christian anti-Balaka militia, some sought revenge and attacked the Christian neighborhood of Bangui. According to Moctar Mahamat, a resident living in the now-desolate capital’s Muslim Quarter, “At the sight of the mutilated body, young neighborhood self-defense militiamen wanted to avenge the killing of the Muslim.”

Anti-balaka militia forces became involved in the violence in response to the uprisings of the Muslim militias. Amadou Rufai, a mayor in Bangui’s Muslim Quarter, fears that the anti-Balaka’s involvement means the continuation of violence.

The situation further deteriorated on Monday, September 28 when more than 500 inmates escaped from the main prison in Bangui, destabilizing much of the order put into place by the Interim Government. Many of the escaped prisoners, which included at least 60 high-level inmates, proceeded to loot and destroy the offices of several prominent international aid organizations. The violence caused President Samba-Panza, who was attending the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York City, to return home to address the clashes.  The prison break has jeopardized the ongoing peace process in CAR, as well as the presidential election planned for October 18. On the Monday following the violence, three teenagers were killed, one of whom had been decapitated, and four children between the ages of 7 and 17 were severely wounded by gunshots and grenade fragments. These clashes resulted in the destruction of the International Organization for Migration offices in Bangui. Mob violence reportedly forced American Marines to rescue two of the organization’s employees.

According to United Nations estimates, the clashes have killed thousands of people in the past few years, displaced 380,000 people, and driven 464,000 individuals to neighboring countries for safety. In the past few weeks alone, at least 27,000 Central Africans have been internally displaced.

Great Lakes of Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Lindah Mogeni

The Former DRC Special Representative to the United Nations Secretary-General, Martin Kobler, and UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, conveyed to the UN Security Council their doubts regarding the sustainability of political progress attained in the DRC. They also expressed concern regarding political tensions given the upcoming 2016 presidential and legislative polls. Kobler further appealed to the DRC government to address issues pertaining to the electoral process such as the elections’ budget, electoral calendar sequence, and voter eligibility.

On the subject of human rights, Kobler asserted that more than 2,200 violations affecting 5,400 victims have occurred in the span of this year, half of which were committed by state agents. He condemns the limited progress with regard to holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring justice.

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed Maman S. Sidikou of Niger as his new Special Representative to succeed Kobler and head the UN Mission in DRC (MONUSCO). The DRC government appealed to Sidikou to foster cooperation between MONUSCO and the FARDC. In early February, the UN suspended MONUSCO support for two FARDC-affiliated battalions whose generals were accused of grave human rights violations.

The former Commander of the Patriotic Resistance Forces in Ituri, Germain Katanga, urged the International Criminal Court judges for a reduction in his prison sentence. The Congolese militia leader was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison for his collusion in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and an attack on Bogoro village on February 24, 2003 that resulted in 200 deaths by gunshot and machete. Though Mr. Katanga expressed remorse and regret, the ICC judges have yet to give a date for the rendering of his decision.

The High Court of Beni city, North Kivu province, sentenced 12 people to penalties for criminal conspiracy, including machete killings, and other serious crimes committed in Beni and the surrounding area. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided logistical support for the hearings.

Middle East and North Africa: Syria

Maddie King

Russia’s airstrikes against ISIS in Syria have continued, and most recently started launching naval strikes. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said on Wednesday that more than 90% of Russia’s airstrikes in Syria have not targeted areas controlled by ISIS and have instead largely targeted more moderate opposition groups including Liwa Suqour al-Jabar, a group trained by the CIA, whose main weapon depot was destroyed last week by the campaign. Reports indicate that leaders of the Kurdish resistance are considering an alliance with Russia and Assad. In response to Russia’s gains in the region, Saudi Arabia and its allies have committed to increase military aid to Syrian rebels in the coming months.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights notes that the northwestern region of Syria has seen “the most intense fighting in months” as the Assad regime, with the assistance of Russian air strikes, recaptured areas in the provinces of Idlib and Hama earlier this week. At the same time, ISIS seized territory from rival rebel groups near the city of Aleppo on Friday, killing a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the process. Losing Aleppo would be a major political setback for the Assad regime.

Concerns over public health in Syria are rising in light of a typhoid outbreak in a refugee camp in the Yarmouk district of Damascus. Access to medical care has dramatically declined during the conflict, with nearly 60% of hospitals shut down or functioning only partially.

Southeast Asia: Burma

Sophie Back

This week opposition leader Aung Yang Suu Kyi has announced that, should her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), win a majority in the elections, she will become president of Burma, regardless of the constitution, which currently prohibits her from doing so. The leader of the NLD remains silent on the issue of ethnic tensions in Burma in order to promote ‘reconciliation’. However, the leading opposition party has promised to ensure equal rights for all nationalities and religions if it wins on 11/08.

The Myanmar government is to sign a permanent peace deal with 7 militant ethnic groups next week in an attempt to establish greater stability in the run up to the elections. The peace deal, which has caused much controversy, includes just half of the groups that had been involved in the negotiations prior to this week’s announcement, and a third of all Burma’s insurgent groups.

The rights of minority religious groups have come under further threat, as thousands attended a rally in Yangon led by Buddhist Ma Ba Tha campaigners to celebrate the passing of four new bills, which penalize polygamy, large families, and intermarriage between religions. The protesters claim they are reacting to an “Islamic Invasion”.

FORUM-ASIA has concluded its conference on religious rights in Southeast Asia with the publication of a declaration asserting a regional commitment to protect religious rights. Amnesty International has also launched a campaign to free Burma’s political prisoners this week. However, tensions remain high between the Myanmar government and the international community as Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin bit back at the UN during the 70th General Assembly this week. Accusing the institution of being outdated and unsympathetic. He criticised the Human Rights Council for labelling Burma’s “systematic human rights violations” as the cause of the migrant crisis, and the Security Council for its closed-door briefing on Burma’s migrant crisis in May.

Three hundred and forty five Rohingya migrants have fled from refugee camps in Indonesia’s Aceh province. The refugees are believed to be travelling to Malaysia with the help of smugglers, following the anti-human trafficking crackdown in Thailand which has shifted human trafficking routes southwards. Earlier this week a report by the Indonesian police rejected the claims of sexual assault made by four Rohingya women in Aceh province on the grounds that the medical examinations found no trace of sexual assault. Police now suspect that the women’s claims were a desperate attempt to gain passage to Malaysia. The regional clamp-down on human trafficking has made migrants resort to greater lengths to seek work and freedom from persecution. With ‘sailing season’ due to recommence over the next few days, ASEAN states are on high alert as many more prepare to set sail on the perilous journey across the Indian Ocean.

South Sudan

Jason Qu

The United Nations Security Council has extended, the UNMISS mandate in South Sudan for an additional two months, urging parties in the South Sudanese Civil War to abide by a crumbling ceasefire and peace agreement. This extension gives UNMISS new powers to monitor the ceasefire as new parties to the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. The resolution also calls for the United Nations and UNMISS to procure and deploy greater numbers of helicopter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in order to better monitor the situation in South Sudan. President Salva Kiir has declared his government’s opposition to this provision, citing a lack of dialogue between Juba and the United Nations over the controversial issue of drone aircraft use.

Mediators in South Sudan have reported new fighting in Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria States, as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) burned down a town in Mundri, killing civilians and indiscriminately using ordnance to destroy almost all properties in the area. SPLA officials and Western Equatoria have published conflicting reports regarding the cause of the fighting. In neighboring Central Equatoria, three SPLA soldiers were allegedly killed by a rebel group in the area after locals reported that the army was trying to expel residents from their homes to loot them. Thousands have been displaced across South Sudan as a result of this new crop of fighting.

Local officials in South Sudan’s turbulent Unity state accused rebel forces loyal to former Vice President Machar of raiding the area of Wangkei Payam, and attacking a group of cattle traders. The rebel forces deny responsibility for the killing of ten civilians, the looting of property, and the raid of herds of cattle. In Unity state’s Leer County and Koch County, SPLA and rebel troops clashed with each other. Government troops also allegedly launched aerial attacks on civilians in the area using helicopter gunships. A rebel spokesman claimed his forces had briefly attacked Leer country before a SPLA counterattack, and that rebels in both counties suffered between of 18 and 40 casualties at the hands of the government.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, SPLM-IO (In Opposition), civil society groups, and a number of mediating bodies have urged President Kiir reverse a previous decision to increase the number of states in South Sudan from 10 to 28. They are claiming partitions of existing states could be counter-productive to the implementation of any agreed peace agreement. Kiir is expecting a legal challenge in the South Sudan Court, but does not enter any proceedings without support, as his executive order still has its mixed opinions from the South Sudanese people. Apart from legal challenges, rebel groups have also declared their opposition to and condemnation of this decree.

Sudan: Darfur

Jason Qu

Three rebel leaders of factions belonging to the Sudan Liberation Movement have changed their minds regarding what was formerly a boycott of talks with the Sudanese Government. They arrived in Khartoum with Chadian President Idriss Deby, on October 9, as part of a national dialogue conference backed by Sudanese President Bashir. Bashir is reported to have asked Deby to convince more rebel factions to come to the table, but many of them still refuse, citing a failure to implement Darfur peace agreements in the past. Instead, the armed and political groups that are not attending, which number over 60, say they would prefer the African Union, which was not present at the conference regarding the national dialogue initiative launched by Khartoum, along with the EU and UN, to help create a comprehensive agreement and path to the end of conflict, rather than hold direct talks with Khartoum.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which holds a minor presence in Sudan’s legislative branches, has claimed they have been in discussions regarding future ceasefire and political negotiations, with the Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF), one of the largest rebel groups in Darfur, Blue Nile State, and South Kordofan. President Bashir has verbalized a commitment to extending a recent two-month ceasefire declared in September into a permanent agreement if rebel groups demonstrate a “willingness for peace.” The DUP, which is not in attendance, pledged to convey these commitments to the SRF, who will also not be attending the conference in Khartoum, along with a number of other rebel factions.

In the national dialogue conference, which began on October 11, SLM rebel leaders Imam Abu al-Gasim and Thaer Hajer have urged that Sudan President Bashir separate talks to end the armed conflict and resolve a political crisis in Sudan, claiming that talks to end war in Sudan have to be taken with a different consideration as there are different issues to resolve. On top of this, the SLM factions present demanded that Bashir release political prisoners. Imam cited continued Sudanese bombing of civilians in areas where rebel forces are present, as a lack of commitment to a government-declared ceasefire, and demanded that any future permanent ceasefire include all of Darfur. Nevertheless, Khartoum is aware that any peace deal will have to include armed groups other than the SLM, such as the SRF.

Get to know the 2015-2016 Task Force

Ruhi Bhaidani serves as Central and West Africa Conflict Coordinator, and has been a STAND member for over four years. As president of her high school’s STAND for Peace club, she organized a concert to draw attention to ongoing genocidal violence around the world. Ruhi is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

Stay current with our conflict zones: Education Updates

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About Education Updates

STAND publishes weekly news updates compiling the most important weekly developments related to emerging and ongoing mass atrocities in each of our five conflict zones. These reports are produced by STAND’s Education Task Force, comprised of college and high school students who specialize in a particular conflict zone, and are passionate about STAND’s role in the genocide prevention movement. 

 

Get to know the 2015-2016 Task Force

Lindah Mogeni serves as STAND’s Great Lakes Conflict Coordinator, and is a senior at Barnard College studying Political Science. Lindah comes to STAND with extensive human rights advocacy and research experience, and spent three months in 2014 as a Fieldwork Research Intern with the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maddie King serves as STAND’s Middle East and North Africa Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing majors in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is passionate about addressing issues of refugee resettlement, particularly as they relate to the roots of displacement.

Sophie Back serves as STAND’s Southeast Asia Conflict Coordinator, and is a third year student at University College London pursuing a degree in History and Political Science. An outspoken advocate for Amnesty International on campus, Sophie comes to STAND after spending the summer in Vietnam, where she led a team that organized workshops to prepare students for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade area.

Jason Qu serves as STAND’s Sudan and South Sudan Conflict Coordinator, and is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. He is also Vice President of the Amnesty International chapter at his school, and is extensively involved in Model United Nations and the Muslim Student Association at Bronx Science.

 

Education Update 10/09/15

Great Lakes of Africa

Lindah Mogeni

The President of the Civil Society of Beni, Teddy Kataliko announced that in the past year, an estimated 500 civilians have been massacred by axes, hammers, and machetes in the Beni territory of North Kivu province. Speaking on behalf of local civil society groups, Kataliko suggested that the murders should signal a wake-up call, and implored the government and the UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) to improve and ensure civilian protection in Beni.

Local civilians in the southwest of Lubero territory, North Kivu, have raised concerns regarding the two week continuous presence of activist armed groups comprised of the NDC Sheka militia and the Lafontaine militia. Sources indicate that the groups have occupied several villages and that their sporadic actions, including kidnapping and looting, resulted in the displacement of residents.

Julien Paluku, the governor of North Kivu, adamantly denies allegations pertaining to the presence of Rwandan troops in the province. In an appeal for calm, he insisted that no such security arrangement between Rwandan and Congolese defense ministers was agreed upon.

Some residents and local civil society organizations have reported sightings of Rwandan soldiers in Mwesso, Masisi and Rutshuru. Dismissing the allegations as rumors and iterating that the Armed Forces of DRC (FARDC) are currently fighting FDLR rebels (many of whom are responsible for the Rwandan genocide) in the eastern region of DRC, Julien Paluku appealed to North Kivu residents for calm.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, Congolese senator and former Vice-President, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and is facing charges of witness tampering during his first trial, where he faced charges for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003. Four others, having acted as collaborators in his witness tampering ring, are facing charges as well.

The Presidential Majority has tightened its ranks and in a show of solidarity, signed a letter confirming their support for Joseph Kabila’s potential re-election in 2016.

 

Middle East and North Africa

Maddie King

On September 27, Russian officials announced an intelligence sharing anti-ISIS coalition with Iraq, Iran, and Syria. In the first three weeks of September, Russia deployed 2,000 troops into Syria and launched an airstrike campaign expected to last three to four months. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, this airstrike campaign has already successfully struck 60 targets in Syria, including five targets around Homs and three in Raqqa. The Russian air force reports that they have killed approximately 300 ISIS militants. First responders in Homs report that Russian air strikes have killed at least 34 civilians, and injured over 72. Local activists say that the residential neighborhoods targeted by the strikes could not have been a Syrian military target for Russia.

The United States-led coalition to fight ISIS remains strongly opposed to the Russian campaign, however, in his United Nations address this week, President Barack Obama conceded a willingness to cooperate with any nation to resolve the conflict. The U.S. Air Force’s senior intelligence officer claims that Russian forces are using “dumb bombs” instead of weapons guided by lasers or satellites, which are less precise and more likely to inflict civilian casualties. Reports indicate that these attacks have already caused casualties of multiple civilians and US backed rebels, though the Kremlin has denied this. Due to the location of the majority of these attacks—in Homs, a city without a concentrated ISIS presence— there is concern that Russia’s intervention is focused on fighting anti-Assad forces rather than defeating ISIS.  

Russia’s intervention is coming on the heels of another failure of US policy in Syria. In May, the United States launched a program to “train and equip” moderate Syrian rebels in Turkey. This program, which initially aimed to train 5,000 rebels per year, dispatched its first group of fighters (about 50) into Syria in July, where they came under immediate attack. This week the second group was dispatched to equally disastrous results— with these US backed rebels being forced to surrender vehicles and ammunition to Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate.

 

Southeast Asia

Sophie Back

With the elections drawing closer, the prospect of ‘free and fair elections’ is of growing concern in Burma. This week, the Chair of the New Democratic Army-Kachin proposed an edict barring three parties from campaigning in Burma’s first multi-party elections. Elsewhere, voting rights have been granted to long-term migrant workers, a development set to enfranchise thousands of workers. However, in Kachin state over 10,000 remain excluded from the vote on the basis of security threats. The Union Election Committee (UEC) is resisting calls to extend voting rights to shorter-term migrants due to the ‘risk of electoral fraud’.  

Cases of bribery, flawed voter lists and religious coercion have also made the news this week, and further doubt has arisen about the potential for a peaceful transition after the election, as ten out of eighteen armed minority groups refused to sign this Wednesday’s ceasefire agreement as a “final decision”.

At a meeting of the Partnership Group on Myanmar this week, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stated, “I am deeply disappointed by the effective disenfranchisement of the Rohingya and other minority communities. Barring Rohingya parliamentarians from standing for re-election is particularly egregious.” The group stressed the need for action to tackle the worsening state of camps for internally displaced persons and to grant citizenship to the Rohingya. Formed in April 2014, the group is comprised of UN member states, which convene to discuss and support strategies for democratization, socio-economic development, among other national issues.

There are growing concerns over the welfare of Rohingya migrants and the willingness of Southeast Asian states to offer protection and asylum. The capture of three Rohingya men on Wednesday in Thailand exposed a new stretch of the trafficking network from Burma to Malaysia, which is facilitated by both civilians and state officials. Elsewhere, Cambodia has been making frequent use of the escape clauses in its $55 million deal with Australia to help tackle the influx of refugees. In Aceh province in Indonesia, four Rohingya women were sexually assaulted by local men outside of a camp that houses hundreds of Rohingya migrants. The assault triggered a mass walkout among camp members, who are among thousands of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants that arrived in Indonesia by boat this summer.

 

South Sudan

Jason Qu

On October 3, over 52 South Sudanese army personnel and rebels were killed in fighting that is a direct violation of a ceasefire agreed upon only weeks ago. The South Sudanese Government has said that rebels are mobilizing in Unity State, where the fighting took place, and in Upper Nile State. President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar blame one another for violating the terms of the ceasefire.

President Salva Kiir has issued a presidential decree, with a provision to expand South Sudan’s 10 states to 28 new states. His supporters say that this plan would give more power to local people and help support greater public services. The SPLM-In Opposition claims that this was done in order to complicate the peace process, as new states could potentially force both sides to renegotiate the distribution of parliamentary seats per state, as well as reassess agreements on governmental and public institutions that were based on the 10 original states.  

The armed opposition in South Sudan has called for the UN to extend the UNMISS mission in South Sudan for an additional three years. They are requesting additional protection for civilians in an environment that remains extremely hostile, in the face of a crumbling ceasefire. A request has also been made for the UN to monitor the scheduled elections in order to ensure that they meet the standards of the international community.

                   

Sudan: Darfur Conflict

Jason Qu

The Sudanese Government has delayed trials of four opposition figures belonging to the Reform Now Movement (RNM), who are on trial for charges including “disturbing the peace.” They could face prison time, fines, or even lashes if found guilty at their trial. RNM has decried the trial as a violation of the Sudanese Constitution, which is supposed to provide rights to free speech.

A South African UN peacekeeper working for UNAMID in Darfur was killed after his convoy in North Darfur was allegedly ambushed. Four other soldiers were wounded in the ensuing firefight and taken to a UN medical facility in El Fasher. Ban Ki-Moon condemned this attack, as did the UNSC, which called for an investigation into the attack.

Rebel movements in Darfur, such as the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), will not be attending talks in Chad’s capital regarding the Darfur Conflict. The Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice/Karbino (SLMJ-K), however, will be attending. Many other members of the opposition claim that they were not invited and have no intention to speak unless certain terms are guaranteed. The Sudanese Government asserts that the rebel movements are not interested in a negotiated settlement and prefer to continue fighting. This is another obstacle to finding a resolution to a decade long conflict in Darfur, which has killed as many as 300,000 people.

 

Stay tuned for a separate update about developments in the Central African Republic.