Sudan’s war-mongering is preventing effective protection of refugees

The Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) accused the Sudanese government on Monday of preventing together with the rebel offensive in the neighbouring country of Chad all effective international protection for the Darfur refugees and the displaced persons in Chad.

"Khartoum intends with its war-mongering in Chad at all events to stop a greater involvement of international peace-keeping forces for the protection of the civilian population”, said the GfbV Africa expert, Ulrich Delius. The attacks of the rebels have meant that the European Union (EU) has had to cancel for the foreseeable future its planned EUFOR mission to eastern Chad for the protection of 300,000 Darfur refugees and 170,000 displaced persons. The task-force consisting of 3,700 European soldiers decided on 25th September 2007 by the Security Council should in accordance with a decision of the EU of 28th January 2008 have started work at this time.

When in the summer of 2007 the planning for the EUFOR mission began the Sudanese government used all means at its disposal to prevent the stationing of European soldiers in Chad. With the new rebel offensive the intervention from Sudan has reached a new peak. Last Monday a convoy of 300 jeeps with armed men of various rebel groups from Chad, supported by the Sudanese army, started from western Sudan towards N’Djamana, so it is clear that Khartoum is trying to prevent the EFOR mission by intensifying the civil war in Chad.

The advance of the rebels is a slap in the face for France, which must now fear for the loss of its influence in Chad. For years Paris failed to exercise any influence on President Idris, who was their ally, for more democracy in Chad. Sudan is now profiting from the short-sightedness of French Realpolitik in changing the power structure in its neighbouring country in its favour.

"The Sudanese government is continuing its cat and mouse game with the international community for the effective protection of the civilian population from the most dreadful violations of civil rights after already taking the most energetic measures to prevent the UNAMID mission”, said Delius. Sic months after the decision to start the UNAMID mission by the Security Council there are no signs in Darfur that the civilian population will be effectively protected by the UNAMID from attacks and expulsion.