Today an interesting day of contrasts and irony emblematic of Sudan. As armed men finish off a rampage killing at least 10 African Union peacekeepers in Haskanita, Darfur, the Chinese Ambassador graciously hosts the Minister of Industry and Mining along with Khartoum’s diplomatic community to celebrate 58 years of Communist China and the much newer and sly Sino-Sudanese petroleum partnership. Why so ironic? Well…
Assailants allegedly launched their attack after the maghreb prayer call, marking the sunset and end of another day of fasting. As AU soldiers from Nigeria, many Muslims, sat to break their fast, men attacked in full force, murdering soldiers in cold blood, looting property, vandalizing vehicles and burning the entire military outpost to the ground.
It’s still too early to know just who the “armed men” that launched the attack on AU forces in South Darfur were. Speculate, however, I will. Initial reports came out blaming SLA forces allied to Abdul Wahid, the famed rebel leader and holdout to the Darfur Peace Agreement and negotiations. Later, both sides came out blaming the other. Khartoum insisted the lawless rebels were hungry for fuel and fire to run their resistance and win a seat at the upcoming Libya peace talks, while the SLA screamed set-up, saying the government framed them so they’d lose credibility and be ostracized from the international community and the peace process.
If you ask me, the government again is pulling the strings. They’ve somehow managed to directly or indirectly send militias, probably Arab Rezeigat and other famous “janjaweed”, to do their dirty work. And for the government of Sudan things could look just as they want them to. At the end of the day, the rebel movements are discredited and no longer taken seriously at the negotiating table. African countries are already coming out wavering on their previous troop commitments. Rebel movements are further fractured and in disarray as divide and rule from Khartoum works again like a charm. Not to mention that we’re all turned to Darfur as the CPA and North-South agreements go nowhere, border demarcation remains stagnant, census preparations delayed and the election nowhere in sight.
And that same night in Khartoum, we feast. The Chinese Embassy hosted a little celebration for the diplomatic community and I felt like a criminal just for being there. It was all really a very nice and normal diplomatic cocktail party (without the cocktails of course – ya haram!). But for some reason I felt like I was sitting in on something very wrong…as if you were in the room as the American contractors divided up Iraqi oil contracts or listening in as Palestinians brokered arms deals in Libya to wage war and hijack Israeli jetliners. Chaos was literally taking place to the west of us, and in this room people were flirting with oil ministers and defense attaches wondering how to split up the booty.
Here China was with their honored guest, the Minister of Industry and Mining, counting the barrels and yet they were standing up in the Security Council saying Sudan should be given the benefit of the doubt and be allowed to sort out Darfur on its own.
Well, maybe China’s right. Haskanita is what happens when Khartoum is on top, whether we’re watching or not.
October 2, 2007 at 1:31 pm
A fascinating contrast between Khartoum and Darfur but I have to disagree with your speculation about Haskanita. Most attacks on the AU have been carried out by different rebel elements attempting to stock up on arms and vehicles, and this appears to be no exception. My feeling is that Darfur is not as black and white as you suggest, and that the Janjaweed and government are not responsible for everything bad that happens in that miserable part of the world.
robcrilly.wordpress.com
October 2, 2007 at 1:41 pm
True, Rob, it is not black and white and I hope I don’t suggest that. I’m merely speculating. It could very well be that I’m wrong and that a-dime-a-dozen rebel groups are, as you suggest, stocking up on supplies. No, Khartoum and the janjaweed are not responsible for everything bad in Darfur. However, their massive omnipresent meddling and the manner in which they continue to handle matters is the root of most problems and continues to be the biggest obstacle to peace.
Why do I think rebels and the government orchestrated or at least played a role is Haskanita? Because that’s what everyone on the ground is saying. That’s what they’re thinking. JEM has officially suggested it, others do so unofficially. But they’re all whispering about it.
October 2, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I’d take a JEM accusation that the government and Janjaweed were responsible with a pinch of salt. And people I’m talking to on the ground are saying most definitely it was rebels
October 2, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Perhaps a plausible scenario in the shitstorm that is Darfur. In this case though I would still point to government-supported militias. The rebel base is Haskanita was found burned to the ground, making it highly unlikely that rebel groups did the deed. Also there were reports of militias moving towards Haskanita over a week ago. It seems likely that they were moving there to kick rebels from the area and the AU got caught in the crossfire, deliberately or otherwise. Of course we’ll never know the full truth, but it seems to me that those who benefit from the attack are those allied to the government, further sowing chaos and confusion.
October 7, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Boy am I glad you two are blogging about Sudan and providing a fairly accurate insider view. There are too many blogs parroting too many inaccuracies about the conflict. Yours are a breath of fresh air.
Thanks!
April 24, 2008 at 6:43 pm
very good blog, congratulations
regard from Catalonia Spain
thank you