CAIRO —Sudan's military is apparently being defied by the
government-backed Janjaweed militia in the war-torn province of Darfour.
Western diplomatic sources said Sudan's military has demanded that
Janjaweed return equipment relayed to the militia over the last two years.
The sources said Janjaweed has refused and threatened to step up attacks in
Darfour.
The Security Council has been divided over whether to impose sanctions
on Sudan for failing to end the war in Darfour and prosecute those suspected
of war crimes, Middle East Newsline reported.
Despite Western appeals, Khartoum has failed to stop Janjaweed from
continuing attacks on civilians in Darfour. the sources said. They said
Janjaweed has frightened off Western aid workers in the province.
On March 16, the United Nations said it has withdrawn international
staff in Darfour because of threats by Janjaweed. The militia said it
planned to target foreigners and UN convoys in western Darfour.
Over the last week, the UN has withdrawn aid staffers from West Darfour
to Geneina, the state capital. Other international aid workers have already
left West Darfour.
The sources said that Janjaweed's threats appeared to be in response to
a demand by authorities for the militia to return equipment, including
vehicles. Khartoum employed Janjaweed to fight the rebellion in Darfour in
2003 and 2004, in which at least 180,000 people were killed.
For its part, Khartoum has asserted that Al Qaida operatives fleeing
from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia entered Sudan. Officials said Al Qaida was
believed to be targeting pro-U.S. members of the Sudanese Cabinet.