UNAMID Joint Mission Analysis Centre’s “Monthly Incident Statistics” report for September shows 98 victims consisting of one international, 63 civilians and 34 combatants. Forty one were in North Darfur, 43 in South Darfur and 14 in West Darfur states respectively.
Of the 63 civilians, 53 were IDPs, of whom 52 were victims of criminal acts (murder). Of the combatants, 30 were killed in inter-tribal clashes and four were members of SAF or the Armed Movements.
Other incidents on the JMAC list include 40 IDP issues, 58 cases of banditry, 8 cases (with 11 victims) of sexual and gender based violence and exploitation, 35 cases of GoS activity, 8 instances of restrictions, 18 incidents of livestock theft, seven tribal issues, two cases of factions/armed movement incidents, and four cases of carjacking (two attempted and two successful).
Alex, is there any indication in the report of how many of the 53 civilian murder victims were killed by combatants? And of the murders committed by combatants, is it possible to determine which factions, militias or troops were the perpetrators in the various cases?
I know that this may be a difficult bit of information for UNAMID [or anyone] to obtain, but I was just wondering if it might be available.
Dear Oscar,
the information provided is in summary form only. Questions also arise, because the Tabara massacre took place in September, there was a significant SAF military assault on eastern Jebel Marra, and continuing intra-Arab fighting during the month. Reports from each of these imply considerably higher figures for fatalities.
Alex
It is my belief that the oversimplification of conflicts in regions such as Darfur prevents the broader global community from anticipating problems, such as the rise in “Inter-Arab Conflicts in Darfur” as reported by the Small Arms Survey in their October 22, 2010 working paper: “The Other War: Inter-Arab Conflict in Darfur.”
It is very possible that some of the casualties from these conflicts are included in the UNAMID Monthly Incident Statistics. The The Small Arms Survey working paper states in part:
“Like the insurgency in its early years, the killing of Arab by Arab is unfolding almost completely unremarked outside Sudan. Unlike the insurgency, the deaths are at least partially recorded, including by UNAMID, and well reported by some Sudanese journalists.
“The protagonists, and most of the victims, are Arab pastoralists from tribes that supported the government’s counter-insurgency.”
The characterization of the conflicts in Darfur as being simply between “Africans” and “Arabs” tends to “dumb down” the complexity of the problems that exist there; and thereby limiting the ability of the external observers to understand what is going on and offer helpful suggestions.
Hopefully the Small Arms Survey working paper can help to illuminate the complex nature of the roots of violence in Darfur and also enlighten those who try to present “The Darfur Problem” to the public in “bite-size” portions that can easily fit into 30-second sound bites on TV.
The Small Arms Survey working paper can be found at:
http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/pdfs/HSBA-SWP-22-The-Other-War-Inter-Arab-Conflict-in-Darfur.pdf
I wish to apologize for omitting to state earlier that The Small Arms Survey working paper “The Other War: Inter-Arab Conflict in Darfur.” was authored by Julie Flint.
I agree, these numbers cannot be accurate and I appreciate you posting this information but couldn’t find it anywhere on UNAMID’s website. Is there a way to get a hold of JMAC’s monthly statistics anywhere online or did you get the information directly from UNAMID?
Dear All
can any one of you please tell me more about the “possible referandum in Dar Fur by 2012″?
Appreciate.
Why do The Southern never trusts themselves?
In many era of Arab use more tick of confusing Southern in order not to allow them to get their own Country, since 1955 up to the present time, if we never change our attitude of accepting arab confusion than completely we will never get our right.
The first periodicity is Unity for Southern and trusts each other and knowing what we are heading to