Daily Darfur: Phony, or Misguided?

by Michelle

categories: Daily Darfur, Obama Administration, Refugees and IDPs

Published August 06, 2009 @ 04:26AM PT

Eric Reeves goes after Scott Gration in a piece in the Boston Globe this morning, taking the envoy to task for his "phony optimism" on Darfur. The article touches on, among other things, the issue of repatriating internally displaced Darfuris:

"Humanitarians were dismayed at Gration's insistent talk about the ‘voluntary' return of some 2.7 million displaced persons languishing in camps throughout Darfur. There is no humanitarian capacity to oversee such returns and ensure their voluntary nature; Khartoum refuses to provide security in areas it controls; and Darfuris in the camps complain bitterly that they are being asked to return to lands without protection, and which have oftentimes been taken over by Arab tribal groups. The notorious Janjaweed have not been disarmed and pose a constant threat. Even in the camps themselves, security is tenuous; women still face rape, men are tortured and murdered, and looting is commonplace. In the past, it has been Khartoum that has pushed for returns under these conditions; now, perversely, it is the US special envoy."

I've heard similar concerns elsewhere --- that the government is trying to force the return of IDPs before security and land issues have been dealt with. IDP leaders and UN officials are pushing back against the idea. Many Darfuris fled has their villages were being destroyed, and much of their land has been taken over --- what do they have to return to? The whole situation lends itself to rather nefarious conspiracy theories. What is Khartoum's motivation for forcing premature returns?

Personally, I'm beginning to wonder if someone placed a chip in Gration's head during his last trip to Khartoum, turning him into a drone for the government of Sudan.

Quickies

The head of UNAMID met with residents of the Abu Shouk IDP camp to discuss security concerns following the murder of the camp's leader and his wife earlier this week.

At a joint press conference with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kenyan foreign minister Moses Wetangula defended the African Union's decision to disregard the ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, saying that it does not amount to a declaration of Bashir's innocence, but interferes with ongoing peace processes.