May 14, 2008
The Khartoum attack explained some more
It looks like opinion is slowly swinging behind options 5 and 8 - see last but one entry.
Here is Alex de Waal on Khalil Ibrahim, leader of JEM, the Darfur rebel force that attacked Khartoum over the weekend, from Making Sense of Darfur:
Over the last two years, Khalil has repeatedly stated his intention to storm Khartoum, and observers have not taken him seriously. It was an error not to listen to Khalil’s statements: his ultimate aim and grand strategy have been consistent over the years. In the last four days, Khalil didn’t succeed in either pulling off a coup or instigating a mass uprising. But he has threatened to try again and let us be clear that he is serious. The sheer audacity of his action has won him acclaim among many Sudanese who aspire for revolutionary change in their country.
Meanwhile Omdurman is still under curfew and reports of arrests continue to come in. As a friend said in an email, I would not want to be a Darfuri in Khartoum right now.
Posted by aheavens at May 14, 2008 4:58 AM