Situation in Darfur, Sudan fr

Darfur is a France-sized region of western Sudan which remains the epicentre of overlapping conflicts. The primary conflict can largely be traced back to February 2003, when rebels attacked a strategic town in central Darfur. The rebels, now known as the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), took up arms against the Sudanese Government, claiming years of political, economic and social marginalisation. In response, the Government of Sudan launched a counter-insurgency campaign, arming ‘Arab’ Janjaweed militias alongside its armed forces to crush the rebellion. The Darfur conflict has also triggered a proxy war between Sudan and Chad fought by hosting and supporting the other’s rebel groups. Finally, Darfur has historically seen many localised conflicts, primarily centred on land tensions between sedentary and nomadic tribes.

Violence and broken ceasefires continued throughout 2004 and 2005 despite peace talks and the presence of an African Union protection force. UN officials estimate that over two million civilians have been displaced and at least 400,000 people have lost their lives since the violence erupted. Although violence has been more sporadic in the last few years, attacks have continued and millions of civilians are unable to return home.

The situation was referred to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the UN Security Council on 31 March 2005, in Resolution 1593. On 27 April 2007, two warrants were issued for the arrest of Sudanese Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmad Muhammad Harun and former Janjaweed militia leader, Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”). On 4 March 2009, Pre-Trial Chamber I at the ICC announced their decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes for his suspected criminal responsibility for crimes committed in Darfur, particularly against civilians.

Cases before the ICC concerning the situation in Darfur, Sudan:

• Ahmad Muhammad Harun (Ahmad Harun)
• Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman ("Ali Kushayb")
• Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir
• Bahr Idriss Abu Garda