May 7, 2007:
The government refused
to hand over two Sudanese named in International Criminal Court (ICC) warrants.
The men are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The government
claims conducted its own investigation into the charges and there is no
evidence of war crimes. One of the men is allegedly a commander in a janjaweed
militia operating in Darfur.
May 3, 2007: The government of
south Sudan (which is acting with increasing autonomy), said that it will continue its efforts to
bring Darfur rebel groups into new peace talks with the central government. The
government of south Sudan believes it can act as a mediator, since many of its
leaders are former rebel leaders in the southern civil war which ended in 2005.
One spokesman, however, said that it will take "up to three months" before the
talks can begin.
May 2, 2007: Six UN workers in the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office were kidnapped in
Darfur, but were later released
May 1, 2007: International
activists trying to stop the genocide in Darfur have taken aim at two large
companies with investments in Sudan: Berkshire Hathaway and Fidelity
Investments. The activists intend to present resolutions to the companies
stockholders asking them to divest in the Sudan. This effort failed. China is
increasingly a target of peace activists. China buys 60 to 65 percent of
Sudan's daily oil output. Resolutions like the ones proposed for Fidelity and
Berkshire Hathaway are often little more than publicity stunts. However, a
coordinated campaign can hurt targeted countries (in this case Sudan) by
limiting sources of private investment capital.
April 29, 2007: The government
accused rebels in the National Redemption Front (NRF) of killing a helicopter
pilot and capturing another in West Darfur. A rebel group claimed it had shot
down a Sudanese helicopter near Um Rai, in North Darfur State. The helicopter
was on a recon mission.
A faction of the Sudan Liberation
Army (one that did not sign the May 2006 peace agreement) said that Sudanese
government forces attacked the Hashasba region in North Darfur State. The
statement said that Sudanese forces also "bombarded" the area. That usually
indicates an air strike by Sudan Air Force transports carrying bombs, though
the Sudanese Army also employs howitzers and mortars.
April 28, 2007: A UN source
reported that "unidentified armed men" fired on the Hassa Hissa refugee camp in
South Darfur state. One refugee was wounded in the attack.