Haskanita raids

The Haskanita raids were two raids by unidentified attackers in the Sudanese town of Haskanita (Darfur) that occurred on 30 September 2007 and early October 2007. On 18 July 2008, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), said he knew who the perpetrators are, and is committed to prosecuting them. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/07/200871874623563474.html]

First raid

On 30 September 2007, a major raid on an AMIS base, mounted by approximately 1,000 Sudan Liberation Army rebels, claimed the lives of 7 Nigerian peacekeepers, and 3 more from Mali, Senegal, and Botswana. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19940585/] and wounded many more. At least 50 personnel were unaccounted for, later found. The attack occurred just after sunset in the northern part of Darfur province, and came amid increasing tensions and violence between the separatist rebels and foreign peacekeepers, with the latter often accused of abrogating their neutrality and bias towards the central government. Sudan's army and Darfur rebel movements blame each other for the attack. [ [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SSHN-77PHFH?OpenDocument News: Sudan, Sudan gov't, militia forces raze Darfur town-rebels ] ]

Second raid

On October 5, 2007, rebel leaders reported that at least 100 people were killed and thousands displaced in Haskanita by the Sudanese army and pro-government Janjaweed militia forces. An anonymous spokesperson for the Sudanese government confirmed that, beginning on October 3, the town of Haskanita was set on fire, causing around 100 civilian deaths and 15,000 evacuees, including the town's original population of 7,000. Following the fire, few buildings remained intact, including the town's mosque and school. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7032613.stm BBC NEWS | Africa | Army-controlled Darfur town razed ] ] The ruins still act as a base for African Union forces, headquartering a full 800-strong battalion. Although it has yet to be confirmed, unnamed sources in Khartoum have claimed the fires were set by AU forces and Janjaweed militia in retaliation for the attacks in late September. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21098619/]

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