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| Darfuris reject controversial referendum as fierce fighting continues | Darfuris reject controversial referendum as fierce fighting continues |
| (5 months later) | |
| Tensions are running high in Darfur ahead of a controversial referendum that could see the war-torn region reorganised into a single semi-autonomous zone. | Tensions are running high in Darfur ahead of a controversial referendum that could see the war-torn region reorganised into a single semi-autonomous zone. |
| President Omar al-Bashir – who has been charged by the international criminal court for war crimes in Darfur – said he is holding the vote next week in partial fulfilment of the 2011 peace agreement between Khartoum and the various rebel groups that have been battling his forces for more than a decade. | President Omar al-Bashir – who has been charged by the international criminal court for war crimes in Darfur – said he is holding the vote next week in partial fulfilment of the 2011 peace agreement between Khartoum and the various rebel groups that have been battling his forces for more than a decade. |
| The ballot, which gives residents the option to keep the five existing states or vote to see Darfur reunited as one entity, has been roundly rejected by locals who say it will merely provoke further clashes at a time when fighting has already intensified and millions have been forced to flee their homes. | The ballot, which gives residents the option to keep the five existing states or vote to see Darfur reunited as one entity, has been roundly rejected by locals who say it will merely provoke further clashes at a time when fighting has already intensified and millions have been forced to flee their homes. |
| As recently as February the UN reported tens of thousands of civilians were leaving Darfur’s Jebel Marra area after weeks of clashes between Bashir’s troops and rebels. | As recently as February the UN reported tens of thousands of civilians were leaving Darfur’s Jebel Marra area after weeks of clashes between Bashir’s troops and rebels. |
| “We are displaced and most of us have no identity papers. How can we be actively involved in this referendum?” says Naima, a woman living with her family in a makeshift camp in Kalmah, South Darfur. | “We are displaced and most of us have no identity papers. How can we be actively involved in this referendum?” says Naima, a woman living with her family in a makeshift camp in Kalmah, South Darfur. |
| Fighting originally flared between forces loyal to the president and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-AW), led by Abdelwahid Nur, in 2003. | Fighting originally flared between forces loyal to the president and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-AW), led by Abdelwahid Nur, in 2003. |
| Since then more than two million people are estimated to have been forced to flee, with the population living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) now thought to have reached 1.4 million. | Since then more than two million people are estimated to have been forced to flee, with the population living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) now thought to have reached 1.4 million. |
| For Naima, living with thousands of others in crowded temporary shelters, the issue of the region’s administration is not a priority. “We want stability first – and for the war to be halted,” she said. | For Naima, living with thousands of others in crowded temporary shelters, the issue of the region’s administration is not a priority. “We want stability first – and for the war to be halted,” she said. |
| Her words have been echoed by various refugee representatives who have refused to register to vote, calling the president’s recent tour of the five existing states “provocative”. | Her words have been echoed by various refugee representatives who have refused to register to vote, calling the president’s recent tour of the five existing states “provocative”. |
| During voter registration in February, hundreds of residents from within the five major IDP camps marched to the United Nations and the African Union mission in Darfur (Unamid) and handed over a memorandum expressing their concerns. | During voter registration in February, hundreds of residents from within the five major IDP camps marched to the United Nations and the African Union mission in Darfur (Unamid) and handed over a memorandum expressing their concerns. |
| However Adam Dalel, rapporteur for the referendum commission, claimed they “did not reflect the majority of people’s views in Darfur” and said “about 76% of the total voters have completed the registration process in preparation for the ballot”. | However Adam Dalel, rapporteur for the referendum commission, claimed they “did not reflect the majority of people’s views in Darfur” and said “about 76% of the total voters have completed the registration process in preparation for the ballot”. |
| Ongoing attacks | Ongoing attacks |
| In September a Human Rights Watch report confirmed that civilians remain subjected to a campaign of violent attacks by the government’s Rapid Support Forces, a military group under the control of the Sudanese national intelligence and security services. | In September a Human Rights Watch report confirmed that civilians remain subjected to a campaign of violent attacks by the government’s Rapid Support Forces, a military group under the control of the Sudanese national intelligence and security services. |
| They interviewed 151 victims and witnesses who described women being gang-raped in hospitals, civilians being shot and burned alive, and other acts of torture committed during two military campaigns in February and May 2015. | They interviewed 151 victims and witnesses who described women being gang-raped in hospitals, civilians being shot and burned alive, and other acts of torture committed during two military campaigns in February and May 2015. |
| Minni Minawi, head of the opposition group the Sudan Liberation Movement and Army (SLMA), said it’s this treatment at the hands of forces loyal to the government which has already undermined the referendum. It has made the vote “ an issue that concerns the government alone” and which “does not have the support of citizens who are being shelled daily by heavy artillery,” he said. | Minni Minawi, head of the opposition group the Sudan Liberation Movement and Army (SLMA), said it’s this treatment at the hands of forces loyal to the government which has already undermined the referendum. It has made the vote “ an issue that concerns the government alone” and which “does not have the support of citizens who are being shelled daily by heavy artillery,” he said. |
| An opposition MP from Darfur speaking from the Sudanese parliament in Khartoum, Esmael Hussein, agreed that the referendum is deflecting attention from more pressing humanitarian and human rights issues. | An opposition MP from Darfur speaking from the Sudanese parliament in Khartoum, Esmael Hussein, agreed that the referendum is deflecting attention from more pressing humanitarian and human rights issues. |
| “First the government must guarantee the return of displaced persons and refugees to their villages, and to compensate them fairly,” he said. “They must conduct reconciliations, and the trial of those involved in acts of violence, and the settlement of land issues.” | “First the government must guarantee the return of displaced persons and refugees to their villages, and to compensate them fairly,” he said. “They must conduct reconciliations, and the trial of those involved in acts of violence, and the settlement of land issues.” |
| Voting is due to take place between 11-15 April. | Voting is due to take place between 11-15 April. |