UN says situation in Sudan's Darfur remains volatile

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said on Wednesday that situation in the war-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur remained volatile although a peace accord had been signed between the Sudanese government and main rebel factions.

In its monthly report on the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed on May 5, the UNMIS said that the efforts to broaden the support base of the agreement were overshadowed by continued fighting on the ground.

The Sudanese government and rebel movements which refuse to sign the DPA "continued their military build-up in North Darfur, in disregard of the DPA and the N'Djamena cease-fire" reached between the government and Darfur rebels in April, 2004, UNMIS said in the report.

It added that military confrontations between the Sudanese government and the rebel National Redemption Front (NRF) reached new heights in October.

"The security situation was complicated by tribal conflicts, especially in South Darfur, and by continued tensions within and among the belligerent factions," the reported noted, adding that attacks on humanitarian and African Union peacekeepers further restricted access to war-affected civilians.

It also said that security on the Chad-Sudan border deteriorated further, as Chadian rebel groups based in West Darfur resumed attacks deep inside Chadian territory.

Armed militia continued to attack civilians with impunity, the reported stressed, saying that on Oct. 29, several hundred militia attacked villagers in the vicinity of Jebel Moon and Seleeh, West Darfur, killing about 50 people, including many children and elderly people.

Source: Xinhua