Impunity continues to prevail in Sudan says UN special adviser on genocide prevention

Despite progress in easing violence and destruction, a strong sense of impunity continues to prevail in Darfur, Sudan’s western region, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention told reporters in Khartoum today following a visit to the region.

Juan Mendez said he perceived a significant disconnect between the account of the Government about actions it has taken to address the problems and its evaluation of the conditions of Darfur, and the accounts of Darfuris whom he met during his visit to the region where tens of thousands have been killed and more than 2 million people displaced since fighting between the Government, allied militias and rebels began in 2003.

Mr. Mendez’s visit was taken in part to monitor the effectiveness of security measures which were recommended in October 2004 to the Security Council, but also to prepare a host of recommendations of next steps to be taken in the region.

In his report to Mr. Annan, the Special Adviser will come up with suggestions on how to protect civilians and prevent human rights abuses with the ultimate objective of providing for the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) while the country wrestles towards internal conciliation and peace.

Mr. Mendez’s report will also offer steps towards resolving the continued crisis in Darfur, mainly between the Janjaweed militia and rebel groups.

In a separate report on south Sudan where a peace agreement in January ended two decades of civil war between the Government and separatist rebels, the de-mining operations in support of the UN peacekeeping mission said that they were able to open the 2.8 kilometre Juba-Yei Road to allow for Mission deployment and emergency food delivery to Juba, the largest and most developed town in the region.

The road opening is of strategic importance for all operations in south Sudan – particularly humanitarian and relief work, as well as development projects.

Two other mine action teams were providing mine awareness sessions to IDPs in Dar El Salam and Wadi El Bashir camps in Khartoum.