Khartoum, Sudan – (African Boulevard News) – Despite agreeing to a 72-hour extension of the fragile truce in Darfur late Thursday, fighters of different groups continued to rampage in the region. Since the truce was implemented, tens of thousands of Sudanese have been forced to flee to safer areas for their lives.
The fighting, which broke out in Darfur earlier this month, has been between the Sudanese army and the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi faction (SLA-MM). The government has accused the SLA-MM of attacking civilians and looting cattle, while the rebel group has accused the government of ethnic cleansing.
At the extension of the truce meeting held in the Qatari capital, Doha, the two sides agreed to continue talks in a bid to find a lasting solution to the conflict. However, there are concerns that the ceasefire extension will not be respected by the warring parties, given the numerous violations that occurred during the initial 72-hour truce.
The UN-AU mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has also voiced concerns over the crisis in the region, calling for an immediate end to the hostilities. “UNAMID is gravely concerned about the impact of the ongoing violence on the civilian population in the affected areas, especially women and children who bear the brunt of the conflict,” the mission said in a statement.
Meanwhile, human rights groups have criticized the government for not doing enough to protect civilians in the region. “We are appalled by the continued attacks on civilians and the failure of the government to protect them,” said a representative of a local human rights group.
The conflict in Darfur has been ongoing for over a decade, with various rebel groups fighting the government over the control of the region. The fighting has caused the displacement of over two million people and the deaths of tens of thousands.
In conclusion, the situation in Darfur remains dire, despite the extension of the truce. The government and rebel groups need to find a lasting solution to the conflict to bring peace to the region. Meanwhile, the international community should continue to support efforts aimed at ending the crisis in Darfur.
