Darfur: New Atrocities Disprove Khartoums Claims

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Darfur: New Atrocities Disprove Khartoum’s Claims 
International Support Needed to Ensure Protection of Civilians

(London, August 11, 2004) -- The Sudanese government’s pledges of 
progress in Darfur show little credibility as civilians face further atrocities 
amid growing insecurity in the region, Human Rights Watch said in a 
report released today. Instead of disarming the government-backed 
militias known as the Janjaweed, Khartoum has begun to incorporate them 
into police and other security forces that could be used to secure proposed 
“safe areas” for displaced civilians. 

The 31-page report, “Empty Promises: Continuing Abuses in Darfur, 
Sudan,” documents how the Sudanese armed forces and the government-
backed Janjaweed militias continue to target civilians and their livestock 
in villages in rural areas and in the towns and camps under government 
control. The report also analyzes Sudanese government pledges to rein in 
the militias, end impunity and restore security in Darfur.

“The Sudanese government insists that it is taking significant measures, 
but the continuing atrocities in Darfur prove that Khartoum’s claims 
simply aren’t credible,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive director for 
Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division. “If the government were serious 
about wanting to protect civilians, it would welcome a greater 
international presence.” 

Increasing the international presence on the ground is urgently needed to 
improve protection of civilians, seriously assess the government’s actions 
and stabilize the region. The African Union, which has a small ceasefire 
monitoring force in place in Darfur, has announced plans to expand the 
mission from 300 to more than 2,000 troops, and give it a mandate to 
protect civilians as well as safeguard AU ceasefire monitors. However, the 
Sudanese government on Sunday rejected this proposal.

In spite of an April ceasefire agreement, fighting continues between 
government forces with their allied Janjaweed militias and the two rebel 
groups in Darfur—the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and 
the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

In many rural areas and small towns in Darfur, government forces and the 
Janjaweed militias continue to routinely rape and assault women and girls 
when they leave the periphery of the camps and towns. In one such attack 
documented by Human Rights Watch in July, a group of women and girls 
were stopped at a Janjaweed militia checkpoint in West Darfur. Militia 
members told them that “the country belonged to the Arabs now and, as 
they were there without permission, they would be punished.” All of the 
women were then beaten, and six girls aged 13 to 16 were raped. 

“Despite growing global attention to the crisis in Darfur, neither the 
international community nor the Sudanese government has taken the steps 
needed to ensure protection for civilians on the ground,” Takirambudde 
added. “Rape, assaults and looting continue daily even as more people are 
being driven from their homes.” 

A U.N. Security Council resolution on July 30 demanded that the 
Sudanese government take steps to improve conditions in Darfur in the 
areas of security, human rights, humanitarian assistance and political 
resolution of the conflict. The resolution also imposed a deadline of 
August 30 for the disarmament of the Janjaweed militia. However, a new 
“Plan of Action” agreed by the United Nations and the Sudanese 
government last week appears to backtrack on this timeline, and instead 
proposes “safe areas” to protect civilians, which would be secured by 
Sudanese government forces. 

Government troops and government-backed Janjaweed militia members in 
Darfur continue to commit abuses against civilians in total impunity. 
Government claims of progress in ending impunity through trials of 
Janjaweed militia members are belied by growing reports that most of the 
convicted are petty criminals or individuals previously convicted on other 
charges and not militia leaders and members responsible for acts of 
murder, rape or other abuses. 

In response to the Security Council’s demand that Janjaweed militia 
members be disarmed, the Sudanese government has instead begun to 
incorporate them into official state security units such as the police and 
semi-regular forces such as the Popular Defense Forces. 

“Incorporating the Janjaweed militias into the security services and then 
deploying them to protect civilian ‘safe areas’ is the height of absurdity,” 
said Takirambudde. “The Sudanese government needs to bring war 
criminals to justice, not recruit them into positions of responsibility.”

Human Rights Watch called for the establishment of an international 
commission of inquiry into the abuses in Darfur, including allegations of 
genocide, and for international monitoring of any trial procedures in 
Darfur. 

Darfur also presents troubling prospects of regional instability. The border 
area between Darfur and Chad is becoming increasingly militarized on 
both sides. Numerous armed groups have emerged along the border, 
sometimes fighting alongside one of the parties to the conflict, sometimes 
opportunistically raiding and looting for economic gain. The presence of 
refugees and large numbers of livestock on the border has become a 
magnet for such raids. 

Human Rights Watch called on the African Union to ensure that sufficient 
military observers and troops are deployed in rural areas, and not only in 
the major towns in Darfur. The U.N. Security Council, U.N. member 
states and the European Union countries should provide logistical and 
financial support to expand the African Union force. 

“Key countries and regional groups, such as the African Union and the 
Arab League, should persuade Khartoum that it needs to accept 
international support to protect civilians and stabilize the region,” added 
Takirambudde. 

Empty Promises: Continuing Abuses in Darfur, Sudan is available in 
English at: http://hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/sudan/2004