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2004-01-07 Africa: East
Sudan demands that the UN tell Eritrea to stop sponsoring the Darfur rebels
"Kofi! Make 'em stop!"
Sudan has complained to the U.N. Security Council that Eritrea is arming and training rebels in western Sudan. "The Sudan government on Monday presented to the security council and the secretary-general of the United Nations an official complaint against Eritrea for its instigation of, support for and financing of the outlaws in the Darfur region," Sudan's news agency reported. Two main rebel groups launched a revolt in the remote western Darfur region of Africa’s largest country last February, accusing Khartoum of marginalising the poor, arid area.
Isn't the remote western region kinda far from the remote eastern border, where you normally find Eritrea?
The news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail as saying Eritrea was unhappy that Sudan’s other conflict — its 20-year civil war with rebels in the south — was nearing a peace deal, so it had begun to support the rebellion in Darfur. "Eritrea contacted the outlaws, set up training camps for them and supported them with arms," the minister added.
I'll bet they're FedExing them arms and ammunition. Can't trust those Eritreans, y'know...
He did not say why he thought Eritrea, which borders the northeastern corner of Sudan, would want to prolong the conflict in the south or how it was transporting arms to the west. The border between the two has been closed since October 2002, when Sudan accused Eritrea of backing rebels on its territory. Eritrea later accused Sudan of backing Islamic insurgents in western Eritrea.
Those Islamic insurgents would be the Eritrean Islamic Jihad, an al-Qaeda affiliate. It looks like Sudan may well be trying to set up a casus belli for a good old fashioned war of conquest to offset its recent overtures to the SPLA. The formation of the Sana’a Coalition should serve as a pretty good indication that Ethiopia and Yemen want part of the pie too.
Last week Eritrea denied backing the rebels in Darfur and said Sudan was only trying to hide deep internal problems and attempts to export "terrorism". Sudan has begun legal proceedings against the western rebels under anti-terror laws and will try to have leaders extradited from abroad to prosecute them for crimes against the state.
I don't buy it. I agree with Dan that it's a setup. Logistically it doesn't make sense — It'd be like Mexico trying to smuggle arms and ammunition to stir up trouble in Montana...
Posted by Dan Darling 2004-01-07 2:53:49 AM|| || Front Page|| [11139 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Sudan is the nastiest regime of my lifetime. Its corpse count of 6 million far exceeds that in any other country. So I am sympathetic to say the least to anyone who opposes the Sudanese regime. I was suprised to discover that Eritrea is split 50/50 between christians and moslems, and religous tolerance seems widespread. They have been cracking down on prosletyzing prodestant sects like the Jehovas Witnesses, but by the standards of the region it appears mild. Anyone who want more information can go here.

From my perspective, country where moslems and christians can live together without serious problems is to be encouraged.
Posted by phil_b 2004-1-7 4:24:48 AM||   2004-1-7 4:24:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Imagine that,Slavers whinning to the U.N.!
Posted by raptor  2004-1-7 6:38:07 AM||   2004-1-7 6:38:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 What's surprising about slavers whining to the UN? It would be surprising if the UN decided to crack down on slavery.
Posted by Robert Crawford  2004-1-7 8:07:58 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com]  2004-1-7 8:07:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 difficult balancing act for US. Eritreans may be good guys, but Ethiopia has been strong supporter of WOT (with eye on Somalia) and Yemeni, on top of the heart of darkness, has been helpful too.
Posted by liberalhawk 2004-1-7 9:29:13 AM||   2004-1-7 9:29:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 The Khartoum regime has for years funded the rebel Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ) and the Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council. It was the policy of the Bashir-Turabi government to form a single line of Islamist governments grom Sudan through Eritrea to Somalia. Eritrea under Afewerki has blocked that dream. Second, look at a map and you will find one hellish long distance from Eritrea to Darfur. That being said, if Eritrea is supplying arms it is understandable. Better that the Khartoum government makes mischief in Darfur than along the Sudan-Eritrea border.
Posted by Tancred 2004-1-7 10:44:08 AM||   2004-1-7 10:44:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#6  I agree that Ethiopia has been helpful, but they've got a lot of bad blood against Eritrea because of the war during the 1990s and aren't too likely to cry too hard if Afewerki falls. My guess would be that the same is probably true with Yemen as well.

It'd be a lot more probable for Bashir to claim (as he initially did) that Chad is supporting the Darfur rebels.
Posted by Dan Darling  2004-1-7 11:34:07 AM|| [http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com]  2004-1-7 11:34:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Etritia offered us basing rights before the Iraq War. I beleive we turned them down in favor of Dijibouti in order to stay out of the Etritia/Ethiopia negotiations.
I was unaware that Etritia was divided down the middle with respect to religion. Based on the fact that these two groups are living together in semi-tolerance, I think we missed a chance to support tolerant behavior by basing our troops there. (Might have upset the UN, though.)
Posted by Super Hose  2004-1-7 11:44:05 AM||   2004-1-7 11:44:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Chad has the military experience to stomp Bashir's ill-equipped, ill-trained and totally undisciplined army. It's much easier to blame Eritrea than Chad. Chad has not been either helpful or hostile to the Darfur rebels, but the Sudanese ignore most of Chad's behavior.

The situation betwee Eritrea and Ethiopia is complex, and has its roots in things that happened 1800 years ago. The targeting of the Coptic Church in Ethiopia by muslims hasn't helped much. The collapse of Ethiopia after Silase's downfall was as much because of inter-tribal and religious animosity as it was because of Silase's failure to provide an heir or establish some form of transitional government. And, of course, the fingers of Saudi Arabia were everywhere, helping speed the collapse of the region.

The whole damned Middle East is due a good enema and a total restart, from ground zero - literally.
Posted by Old Patriot  2004-1-7 1:47:45 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm]  2004-1-7 1:47:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Yikes! OP local cold reboots can change the OS.
Posted by Shipman 2004-1-7 5:41:26 PM||   2004-1-7 5:41:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Ship...
I think the Middle East needs a few HOT reboots - say about 30,000K.
Posted by Old Patriot  2004-1-7 9:35:52 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm]  2004-1-7 9:35:52 PM|| Front Page Top

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