Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer's approach to building peace in Sudan is an active, practical one involving day-to-day contact between members of Sudan's new government of national unity and top U.S. officials like Vice President Cheney, as well as frequent travel to the region.

The Nuba Mountains area is situated in the geographical centre of the Sudan and covers an area of 30,000 square miles. The area is inhabited by populations estimated to be over two millions and 61% of these inhabitants are indigenous Nuba. The other groups who share the land with the Nuba are mixture of Arab tribes, namely Hawazma, Meissyeria), Fellata (from west Africa) and Jellaba (merchants from northern Sudan). 

The conflict in Darfur has deepened despite the new government of national unity in Khartoum and the increasing number of African Union Peace keeping force presence in the region. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 innocent civilians in Darfur have been brutally murdered in an on-going military campaign, which the United