Briefing Paper

Unifying Darfur’s Rebels: A Prerequisite for Peace

Insecurity in Darfur remains pervasive despite a decline in
direct, large-scale fighting between the government
and the two main rebel movements, the Sudan Liberation
Army/Movement (SLA) and the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM). Maintaining the present uneasy status
quo is not the answer. The Khartoum government
continues to flout its numerous commitments to neutralise
its allied proxy militia, the Janjaweed, and more than two
million civilians displaced by the conflict will not return
home without a comprehensive political settlement
including security guarantees. But the problem is not just
on the government side: discord within and between the
rebel movements also needs to be resolved if there is to be
a chance for lasting peace.