Since the conflict began in February 2003, ethnic violence has claimed the lives of at least 200,000 people, mostly among black African farmers, from which rebel groups fighting the central government in Khartoum draw their numbers, according to UN sources.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report entitled Darfur's New Security Reality: "Violence is again increasing, access for humanitarian agencies is decreasing, international peacekeeping is not yet effective and a political settlement remains far off."
The 40-page document said the crisis "has mutated, the parties have splintered and the confrontations have multiplied."
The ICG criticized the strategy of African Union and UN mediation, saying it does not take into account recent developments.
"The new realities emphasize the necessity of broadening participation in the peace talks to include the full range of actors and constituencies involved in the conflict, including its primary victims, such as women, but also Arab tribes, who are at the cusp of a new insurgency."
The deployment of a hybrid UN-AU force for Darfur (UNAMID) should be closely linked to the peace talks to ensure there are no discrepancies between the force, the rebels and the government as to the mission's duties, the document said.
"When it is on the ground, UNAMID must build upon lessons learned from its predecessor, including to be more pro-active in protecting civilians and responding to ceasefire violations."
Some 236,000 Darfur refugees now live in Chad along the border with Sudan, and around 173,000 of Chad's population are currently living in camps.
In March 2007, the UN accused Sudan's government of orchestrating and taking part in "gross violations" in Darfur and called for urgent international action to protect civilians.
