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African Union to Investigate East Darfur Massacre

The African Union is going to investigate a massacre that took place on November 11th in camp for internally displaced people at Sirba near Kulbus in West Darfur. The attack carried out by militiamen killed at least 30 individuals, injuring many more. The militiamen also burned down nearly 100 houses. This has been the latest in a series of attacks by militiamen believed to be members of the Darfur Janjawid, who are allied with the Sudanese government.

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, has called for a meeting with high ranking representatives from the US, the EU, Russia, China and the African Union to find a way to put an end to the deadly violence in Darfur. The United Nation`s Mission in Sudan says that the violence in Darfur`s three states is continuing. The past few days have brought attacks on civilians, acts of banditry and clashes between government and rebel forces. Annan has called for a complete cease of violence in the region saying that "This settlement will be achievable only if discussion and dialogue replace the bombings, attacks and counter-attacks of the last two months ? The suffering of the Darfurian population has lasted far too long."

The fighting in the region began in 2003 when rebels in Western Sudan began fighting for greater autonomy. The Sudanese army and allied Arab militias have fought to quill the rebellion. In the process, approximately 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million people have been forced out of their homes by massacres, rape, looting and arson and are currently living in camps for displaced persons in the Sudan-Chad border. The Sudanese government is apposed the deployment of 7,000 African Union peacekeepers saying it is an attempt to colonize the region again.