Several eyebrows have been raised given recent remarks from the out-going UN Military Commander, Martin Luther Agwai, of UNAMID, who stated that the situation of war within the Darfur region is over.

“If war is a conflict whereby today you attack and then go back home and stay until three, four, five months and come back… If that is a definition of war then there is a war in Darfur.

“But if that is not the definition then there is no war as of now in Darfur,” said Agwai, according to a transcript of his statements given late on Wednesday.

These claims were later corroborated by statements made by a special summit of the African Union on the state of conflicts within the continent.

The Tripoli Declaration issued at the end of the summit indicated that only criminal acts of some outlaws were taking place in Darfur at the present time, according to a report of the state-run SUNA news agency. The declaration called for intensifying efforts to push ahead the political peace process in Darfur toward reaching stability and peace.

This is not the first time that fighting has ceased within the region, but it is the first time that a UN official, especially one with Agwai’s critical and authoritative position, has declared that the war is over. It is also the first time that the AU has declared, rather confidently, that the conflict has come to a close and what remains are isolated acts of ‘banditry’ and not war. That being said, both are now pushing for the political process to be initiated so that a peace agreement can be signed between the warring parties. Needless to say, for both Agwai and the AU members to come to this conclusion much thought, observation and discussion must have been employed; their statements certainly do not come in haste. At the same time, however, it seems as though both are employing an extremely narrow perception of war and conflict. The Justice and Equality Movement, one of the rebel groups involved within the conflict, insists that the war is not over and to do so is to undermine and ignore the on-going suffering of the people – be they dead, injured, starving or internally-displaced. Other rebel groups have also voiced similar concerns as well as their commitment to continue fighting within the region. Several Darfur advocacy groups have also taken offense to the recent declarations, which they see as undermining the claims of genocide.

Khalid Medani, professor of Islamic Studies and Political Science at Canada’s McGill University, has written extensively on the Sudanese civil war and conflict. In an email discussion, he states:

The statements about the war coming to a close flies in the face of reality. The death toll has been lower than estimates for some time, but the real issue has always been on two fronts. First, the division within the rebel groups which has made it impossible to negotiate a peace agreement with Khartoum. Second, the fact that the issues of demobilization, resource sharing, and political representation have not been ironed out let alone implemented.

The fact is that the political crisis has always superseded the humanitarian one as most Sudanese will tell you. Agwai’s statement really is based on the futility of the African Union forces which has tried but not been given any logistical, personnel, or financial support despite years of trying for this. Agwai is simply stating this to find a way out diplomatically. As for the international community, you are right. Since the arrest warrant on Beshir Khartoum has made it very difficult for international organizations to work in Darfur.

And even if the Darfur conflict is able to sustain this period of non-fighting, violence rages on in other parts of Africa’s largest country. As Medani continues, “the focus on the part of the US and others at the moment is really on the CPA [comprehensive peace agreement]…in the south” which is being threatened by clashes between tribes over cattle. According to the UN, more than 2000 people have been killed this past year in the south in similar clashes, a number exceeding those killed in Darfur.

Related posts:

1. Details of Darfur Agreement
2. Darfur Crisis to Worsen
3. The Danger of Misunderstanding Darfur (Not a Satire)
4. Where’s the Save Congo Coalition?
5. The Road to Darfur Passes Through Baghdad and Jerusalem