By Ali Ibrahim-Misbar

Note: The views and opinions expressed in blog/editorial posts are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of JSC.

Armed violence erupted in West Darfur on Friday, April 22, particularly in Kerenik, which is located 80 kilometers east of Geneina, the provincial capital. After the city was burned and live ammunition was used against unarmed communities, the displaced population had to flee again in search of safety. The conflict is a continuation of a long line of tribalism between nomadic Arabs and the African Massalit tribe. General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced, an independent local aid group, states the violence was in retaliation for the killing of two Arabs, as claimed by residents of Kerenik, which is dominated by the Massalit and has resulted in over 200 deaths and over 100 injuries.

The Janjaweed, an Arab militia notorious for being used by former President Omar Al Bashir's regime in the early 2000s to control ethnic minority rebels in the region, has been accused of orchestrating the violence. The group, which is now part of the paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and is led by Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Daglo, is known for its size and for being armed with weapons and vehicles. Fighting has now spread to Geneina, where armed groups are battling the RSF.

Purely Tribalism or a Cover to Gain Control in Darfur? 

Although tribalism has been an issue in the region for many years, there have recently been allegations that the RSF is attempting to destabilize specific areas and dismantle camps in order to gain control of the land for more gold prospects. Similar violence was recently witnessed in Jabal Moon, northeast of Geneina, which is also rich in gold. The RSF controls the majority of Darfur, and media reports that an estimated 30 tonnes of gold are exported each year to countries such as Russia. Sudan is Africa's third-largest gold producer, but its "reserves remain largely untapped, including those in areas such as Jabal Moon." This agenda would explain the disproportionate retaliation, including the burning of entire towns and the displacement of entire communities, as well as the RSF's involvement while their leader Hemeti remains silent.

Misinformation Surrounding the Conflict 

Given the context of the conflict in West Darfur, with constant power outages, limited mobile connectivity in some areas, displacement, and loss of livelihoods, the exchange of credible information is frequently difficult. As a result, there is an increase in false and misleading information, as well as the spread of misleading photos and videos. At least four fact checks on the West Darfur conflict have been conducted by the Misbar team.

The photo of a crying child in Malawi, seen below, was misleadingly attributed to the latest conflict.

Photo Description: Child crying in Malawi in 2002 (Getty).

This photo, which depicts violence in the village of Deleij in Central Darfur in 2019, was also misleadingly linked to the recent fighting.

Photo Description: Violence that took place in the village of Deleij in Central Darfur in 2019.

Furthermore, two more out-of-date videos from Chadian Abeche protests were circulated as recent West Darfur violence.

UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Investigation

Following a statement by Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim Yassin, a high-ranking delegation arrived in Geneina, claiming that a "sovereign" delegation had been tasked with restoring calm and another with dealing with the humanitarian aftermath. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also issued a statement urging Sudanese authorities to take action and protect the people of West Darfur. 

Bachelet said she was "appalled" by the violence and demanded "prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into these attacks, as well as the prosecution of all those responsible in accordance with international human rights law." She also called for the "long-delayed implementation of the security measures outlined in the Juba Peace Agreement, which stipulated the establishment of a joint security-keeping force to protect civilians in Darfur, as well as the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Protection of Civilians."

Misbar Sources:

OHCHR 
Al-Jazeera
BBC
DW
France24
The National News
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