A surprising report in the New York Times by Jeffrey Gettleman in January 2010 reported that, "The rebel groups that started the war in Darfur in 2003, catalyzing a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, almost seem to have gone into hibernation. So, too, have the infamous janjaweed, the marauding bandits who raped, killed and terrorized countless civilians," Gettleman wrote.
The Rwandan commander of the 20,000 peacekeepers in Darfur, Lt Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba said, "Frozen. That is a good word for the situation. It is calm, very calm at the moment, but it remains unpredictable."
Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College and one of the leading voices on Darfur is quoted by Gettleman: "There is no doubt that violence has diminished significantly in the past two or three years -and many, including myself, have been slow to recognize how significant this reduction has been."
According to Gettleman, 2.7 million Sudanese are still "stuck" in refugee camps afraid to go back to their homes.
Sudan has a hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission that is today described as the most expensive in the world, at $1.6 billion per year, which took years of negotiation to put in place. Mohamed B. Yonis, a top United Nations official in Darfur said, "The possibility is that they could be here forever."
It should be noted that in the background of the above report are other reports at the same time that in southern Sudan violence continues and is building. According to United Nations officials, more than 2,000 people were killed in 2009, many more than in Darfur.
Sources:
Gettleman, Jeffrey (January 12, 2010). Fragile calm holds in Darfur after years of death. New York Times.
Charbonneau, Louis (April 23, 2009). UN warning about Darfur is 'a big lie' - Sudan envoy. Reuters, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23360523.htm
The Rwandan commander of the 20,000 peacekeepers in Darfur, Lt Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba said, "Frozen. That is a good word for the situation. It is calm, very calm at the moment, but it remains unpredictable."
Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College and one of the leading voices on Darfur is quoted by Gettleman: "There is no doubt that violence has diminished significantly in the past two or three years -and many, including myself, have been slow to recognize how significant this reduction has been."
According to Gettleman, 2.7 million Sudanese are still "stuck" in refugee camps afraid to go back to their homes.
Sudan has a hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission that is today described as the most expensive in the world, at $1.6 billion per year, which took years of negotiation to put in place. Mohamed B. Yonis, a top United Nations official in Darfur said, "The possibility is that they could be here forever."
It should be noted that in the background of the above report are other reports at the same time that in southern Sudan violence continues and is building. According to United Nations officials, more than 2,000 people were killed in 2009, many more than in Darfur.
Sources:
Gettleman, Jeffrey (January 12, 2010). Fragile calm holds in Darfur after years of death. New York Times.
Charbonneau, Louis (April 23, 2009). UN warning about Darfur is 'a big lie' - Sudan envoy. Reuters, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23360523.htm
