Sudan's Democratic Transition Depends on Stability in Darfur

World Politics Review posted on 17 March 2020 an analysis titled "Why Sudan's Democratic Transition Depends on Stability in Darfur" by Wibke Hansen, Berlin-based Center for International Peace Operations, and Volker Perthes, German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

The authors say a genuine transition toward a participatory and inclusive political system in Sudan will depend on the fragile balance of power between civilians and the military--between pro-democracy groups, trade unions and civil society activists, on the one hand, and representatives of the military and Islamist ruling elite on the other. But another important element is the transitional government's effort to negotiate an end to armed conflicts across Sudan, including Darfur.

Amnesty International Charges Sudan Uses Chemical Weapons in Darfur

Amnesty International issued a statement on 29 September 2016 titled "Sudan: Credible Evidence of the Use of Chemical Weapons to Kill and Maim Hundreds of Civilians Including Children in Darfur Revealed."

Amnesty's investigation that used satellite imagery and more than 200 interviews with survivors concluded that at least 30 likely chemical attacks have taken place in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur since January 2016. Sudan military forces launched in January 2016 a campaign in the Jebel Marra area against the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid forces who they accuse of ambushing military convoys and attacking civilians.

New Bombing in North Darfur

The Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) published a report in March 2014 titled "Bombed and Burned: Darfuri Civilians Flee East Jebel Marra En Masse" that shows satellite imagery of bombardments in the  mountainous Jebel Marra area of North Darfur.  SSP attributes the bombing to the Sudan Air Force.