Darfur:
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has presented evidence asking for the arrest of three rebel commanders for an attack on African Union Peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007. Human rights groups welcomed the move and several Darfur rebel groups vowed to respect the indictments.
The Sudanese Army and Darfur rebels fought in a series of deadly clashes in northern Darfur on Thursday. At least five rebels and one soldier were killed. More reports of clashes came in just yesterday.
The United Nations has been investigating violations of the ceasefire that was declared and then almost immediately allegedly broken last week. Several UN experts have urged increasing and strengthening the arms embargo to Sudan.
Burma:
General Than Shwe re-enforced his commitment to the 7-step "road map to democracy" and warned citizens not to be taken in by nations he considers interventionists.
China has signed two deals with Burma to allow them to use ports to unload their oil and gas to be shipped to China on a 900 mile, yet to be built pipeline.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will soon be asked by the UN Human Rights Council to create a Commission of Inquiry on Burma pending the creation of a human rights body within ASEAN.
Congo:
After talks with UN-designated mediator and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Tutsi rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda pulled his forces back from several positions in North Kivu province on Wednesday in order to allow aid into the area. A unilateral ceasefire continued to hold over the weekend, allowing aid workers to enter previously inaccessible areas.
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to bolster MONUC, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, with the temporary deployment of more than 3,100 additional peacekeeping troops and police. While the development was welcomed, the Congolese government and the EU have suggested that the force’s mandate be expanded as well.
Former head of UN peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno urged the European Union to send "elite" forces to assist MONUC as the reinforcements are being deployed.
At a rally in the captured city of Rutshuru in North Kivu province, attended by over 1,500 people, General Nkunda criticized the planned deployment of peacekeepers, saying they will not bring peace.