Darfur establishes 'Peace Office'

Omar al- Bashir, the President of Sudan, just last week set up the Darfur Peace Follow- Up Office; in the hope of edging closer towards the international vision of peace for Darfur. Al- Bashir issued a presidential decree to establish the new office, appointing state minister Amin Hassan Omer at its head, in a move that is widely seen to be a further attempt at implementing the Doha Peace Agreement of July 14th 2011. In spite of this perceived reconciliation between Khartoum and some of the major rebel groups in Northern Darfur, strained relations in other areas bordering Sudan and the newly independent South Sudan still seem prevalent.
Just a few hours ago, there were reports of increased fighting in the Blue Nile State, with many residents having already fled the capital, Damazin. Similarly, neighbouring South Kordofan saw the exodus of 200,000 citizens amidst reports of summary executions, aerial bombardments and the shelling of neighbourhoods. Whilst the ceasefire last week in that region portrayed hopeful images of some sort of imminent settlement, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement have since accused the government of tactically using this time to prepare for the attack in the Blue Nile State.
On the one hand, whilst reports of communication between South Sudan's new leader, Salva Kiir, and the North's al- Bashir are encouraging, it seems that the border areas still have some way to go.