Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Daily Update: China’s Darfur envoy arrives in Sudan

Simon Warren

On the Ground: According to the Rwanda News Agency, the 786th US Air Expeditionary Squadron will continue to transport Rwandan troops and equipment into the Darfur. The 786th AES has been transporting Rwandan troops as part of the AU ground force for over 3 years. The AU today said that nations are still needed to provide logistical support, particularly air support, for the upcoming hybrid UN-AU force.

In Diplomacy: China’s special envoy on Darfur, Liu Guijin, arrived in Khartoum yesterday for his third visit to Sudan since his appointment in May. He will meet with officials in Khartoum to discuss issues concerning Darfur, and then will fly to the Libyan city of Sirte to attend peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel groups. China, as Sudan’s greatest ally, is considered crucial to the peace process.

The BBC reports that at least five rebel groups will not attend the talks, saying that they have not been given enough time. In an interview with the Assosciated Press, UN undersecretary-general of humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, seconded this difficulty, but also says that he hopes once the talks have begun, other rebel groups will join in, as the talks are not a one-time only offer. Sudan has declared that once peace talks begin on the 27th, they will observe a cease-fire.

In an audio tape released recently, Osama bin Laden has called for a fresh jihad against the 26,000 member hybrid AU-UN force. He declared the UN and AU’s actions invasive, and called on Muslims in Sudan and the Arab peninsula to attack the force. UN officials do not fear attack, as many of the countries contributing to the force are Muslim themselves, although some foreign terror cells may be planning some sort of hostility.

In the activist movement: The Chicago Bulls’ player Luol Deng spoke at a 200 person strong rally in Chicago. Deng is himself from Sudan and fled the country with his family when he was 5.