Saturday, August 9, 2008

The Sudanese Holocaust You Never Heard Of

And the reason Sudan is considered so important: OIL!!!

"About 2 million people died in Sudan's north-south war. It is separate from the Darfur conflict in the west of the country."


Holy crap!!!!

ANOTHER
GENOCIDE relegated to the rabbit hole!!!!

"Sudan agrees on joint force to control oil-producing region; Spring clashes displaced 50,000" by Opheera McDoom, Reuters | August 9, 2008

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's former north-south foes have agreed on an administration for the disputed oil-producing Abyei region where clashes this year had threatened to derail a 2005 peace deal, officials said yesterday.

Clashes in Abyei in May killed scores and drove 50,000 from their homes. Abyei is home to oil wells that have fueled an economic boom in Sudan, Africa's biggest country.

Also see: Ask and Ye Shall Receive

After the fighting in May, the two sides agreed to a road map to resolve the crisis with a joint force to patrol there and discussions on how the region would be run.

"We can state confidently that we have managed to finally clear this hurdle in the way of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," northern National Congress Party official Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed told Reuters.

A senior former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) official, Yasir Arman, confirmed the agreement. Ahmed said Arop Moyak would head the local government for the SPLM and his deputy Rahma Abdelrahman would be the NCP representative.

Moyak is from the Dinka Ngok which traditionally inhabit the region and Abdelrahman is from the nomadic Misseriya tribe. There had been differences over whether the Misseriya were Abyei residents. They would decide the rest of the local government within two weeks to be approved by the presidency.

The north-south peace deal in 2005 ended Africa's longest civil war, shared power and wealth, enshrined democratic transformation and created separate north and south armies. The south and Abyei will be able vote in 2011 on possible secession so which tribes are resident is a key issue.

Last month the northern army said it had withdrawn the last of its troops from Abyei leaving joint north-south army units in charge of security for the first time. Ahmed said he now expected the presidency to avail the necessary resources to the administration and he hoped the population would now return to their homes.

Almost 50,000 fled the May violence which saw most of Abyei town burn to the ground. Agreement on the administration ended years of deadlock over Abyei and was the last remaining part of the roadmap to be implemented.

The issue of Abyei's borders has been referred to the Permanent Court for Arbitration in The Hague for final decision. The head of the international body tasked with monitoring the north-south deal, Derek Plumbly, praised the agreement after "very delicately balanced negotiations."

"This was the main single outstanding element in the roadmap that was agreed after the fighting in May," he told Reuters. "It means that the donor community will be able to move in and support the return of the people and support the administration in reconstruction," he added.

About 2 million people died in Sudan's north-south war. It is separate from the Darfur conflict in the west of the country."

Why save that for last, and why the inordinate emphasis on the Darfur killings -- which amount to a quarter of the north-west civil war?

Is it because the Muslim and government janjaweed can be blamed for Darfur?


(Editors note: once again, Somalia is also missing from my War Daily pages)