Darfur's rebels and refugee  fiercely  condemn Khartoums plan  to carve Darfur into five states, a tactic designed to strengthen the genocidal regimes  control over the region, weaken rebel influence and divide Darfur along tribal lines and breaking up its ethnic power bases. .

As the international community focuses on  South Sudan's fitful separation from khartoum, military operations in Darfur have intensified as Khartoum  seizes  control over major towns and other previously rebel-held areas.