France 24
International news website providing 24/7 news coverage

Sunday, July 06, 2008

DARFUR

Crisis in Darfur

FRANCE 24 takes a special look at the Sudanese region of Darfur, where the UN says conflict has claimed at least 200,000 lives in the past four years. More than two million people have been displaced.

Fighting has raged in Darfur, in western Sudan, since 2003. Rebel movements demanding a greater share of power and oil resources accuse the Khartoum regime of supporting Janjaweed militias who attack civilians in the region.

African Union military forces were sent in to quell the fighting but, lacking manpower and equipment, have proved largely incapable of protecting civilians.

Some hope was offered by a May 2006 peace accord between rebels and government representatives - but the agreement has done little to ease insecurity and the humanitarian crisis.

Since 2005, the United Nations has maintained that crimes against humanity are being committed in Darfur - and has sought to deploy its peacekeepers. In June 2007, Khartoum appeared to accept the deployment of a joint United Nations - African Union force. In July, the U.N. Security Council approved a plan for 26,000 U.N. and African Union peacekeepers.

International meet opens in Paris High-level talks in Paris aim to bring together the countries involved in the Darfur conflict to discuss a political solution and humanitarian issues.

The fight to keep the peace Over 200,000 people have been killed in the Darfur crisis. A force of 7,000 troops in an area the size of France, the African Union are struggling to keep the peace. Special correspondents: Sophie Claudet and Virginie Herz.

Chad-Sudan: a fractious border The border between Chad and Sudan streches more than 800 miles. The Sudanese and Chadian armies have engaged in a war of attrition. Special correspondents: Sophie Claudet and Virgine Herz.

Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher In El Fasher 150 000 refugees have settled in the 3 largest camps of the region. The oldest camp, Abu Shouk, is where most of the Fur tribesmen have sought refuge. (Report: S.Claudet, V.Herz)