Can world's 'Elders' help solve Darfur?

Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and other respected international leaders join forces to push for peace in Sudan.

from the October 4, 2007 edition

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"Look, there are a lot of myths about Africa and the role of elders, but the fact is that when you talk about Africa, it is a tremendously diverse place, with a myriad of cultures," says Steven Friedman, a senior researcher at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, in Johannesburg. " It is not one culture or tradition throughout."

"It's not that international players aren't taken seriously here," adds Mr. Friedman. "But there are plenty of people [in Sudan] who are concerned about looking good in the eyes of the international community, and they pull the wool over the public eyes. To get a slice of power, people can be adept at portraying themselves as lovers of freedom."

In any event, some combatants in Sudan's Darfur region don't seem interested in conflict resolution just yet, Mr. Friedman adds, a fact made clear by the recent attack by Darfur rebels that killed 10 peacekeepers of the African Union last week.

The latest violent attacks threaten to undermine the presence of foreign peacekeepers – and the activities of international aid groups.

Rebel attacks complicate peace

Just a few days after the attack on African Union peacekeeping troops, reportedly carried out by a branch of the Sudan Liberation Army rebel group, rebel leaders now say that they expect more such attacks on the AU, because of their inability or unwillingness to do their job, which is keeping the peace.

Rebels blame the 7,000 member African Union force (mostly from Nigeria) for a flawed peace deal signed last year by the government and one rebel faction, which was brokered by the AU.

Commander Ibrahim Abdullah Al "Hello," who controls the northern Darfur town of En Siro for one branch of the Sudan Liberation Army, says he does not know who was responsible for the attack on AU troops in Haskanita.

But he says that the numerous rebel factions are united in their hatred of the AU force.

"All the soldiers of the rebel movement are ashamed now to co-operate with the African Union," he says. "The AU came to look after the cease-fire and report to the international community but they have been unable to stop the big incidents carried out by the government and the janjaweed."

Rebels losing faith in African Union

Not only are they failing to do their job, he says, but there is a suspicion that they are too close to Khartoum.

"It seems very easy for the government to push the AU around and that makes us view them as the enemy," he says.

Previous attacks on AU forces have involved carjackings, which is one way the rebels obtain vehicles.

Such is the animosity for the AU that most aid agencies refuse to allow the officers on to their premises for fear of attracting rebel hostility.

 

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