Thursday/SuperEarlyFriday News: The word-of-the-day is "escalate."

Sudan: The UN says the conflict in Darfur, Sudan “threatens to enter” a “new cycle of violence”—MF thinks it’s already there. In addition to the escalating violence following the Darfuri rebel group attack on Khartoum, tensions related to the North/South civil war erupted in violence in the disputed Abyei region, with ‘former’ Southern rebels exchanging gun and mortar fire with northern government forces. The UN withdrew all non-essential personnel from the region as a result of the violence, and warned that the renewed violence jeopardizes the 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of war. For more background on Darfur and the North/South conflict—can it get any more complicated—clickity click here

Zimbabwe: As the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) continues to delay a speculative date for a presidential runoff—July, maybe? No, August, I think—the violence against opposition supporters continues to escalate. Mugabe’s Public Enemy No. 1 this week? Anglicans. The US sent a letter of protest after a confrontation between the US ambassador and Zimbabwe police. (I’m sure Mugabe is shaking in his boots.)

But look, Bobby M., you do win a prize for all of your hard work dictator-ing: World’s Highest Inflation! I think tomorrow I’ll go to a currency exchange, lay down $2, and ask for a Zimbabwean $500 million note.

In other news…
...The Guardian’s page on the Democratic Republic of Congo, if you need some light reading.
...The violence and trauma of rape continues its physical degradation for women in Liberia.
...Inside a Palestinian refugee camp, courtesy of BBC.
...Stalemate in Uganda. An interesting note here: Uganda’s peace talks are set in Juba, South Sudan…Uganda received thousands of refugees from Sudan’s North/South civil war…conflict-ridden countries holding each other’s peace talks. Thoughts?