Sudan – a case for international intervention
Darfur is located in the west of Sudan
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More than 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur since fighting broke out five years ago, the United Nations humanitarian chief has said. |  |
Thursday, 24, Apr 2008 12:00
Five years have passed since the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region began. The United Nations now estimates 300,000 people have died as a result of the fighting and the malnutrition, disease and reduced life expectancy forced upon the region's refugees. The situation is bleak, with current hopes fixed on the successful deployment of a UN peacekeeping force.
Cause of the crisis
The conflicts within Darfur set Sudan's pro-Arab central government against shifting alliances of rebel militias who oppose control from Khartoum. Ever since Sudan became independent from Britain in 1956 the ethnic south pushed for as much autonomy as possible, frequently resorting to armed insurrection. Peace deals have come and gone, but the belief in Darfur that Sudanese leaders do not prioritise those living in the poorest regions of the country has not gone away.
Click here to read an interview with Amnesty International on Darfur.
The human cost
In 2004 the government-backed janjaweed militia began a systematic campaign of rape, murder and destruction which many observers said amounted to genocide. Tens of thousands died during the massacres, leaving families throughout the entire region fearful that the janjaweed would strike their village next. Many fled to refugee camps - four million people were displaced by October last year – creating the conditions for devastating poverty and disease. Overall, 300,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict.
Alienating Khartoum
Efforts to convince the Sudanese government to stop the violence have been largely unsuccessful. Khartoum has consistently denied its collusion with the janjaweed and strenuously rejected allegations from the international criminal court accusing the janjaweed leader and its humanitarian affairs minister of war crimes. In this environment of accusation and angry denial, efforts to secure permission for peacekeepers to enter the region proved extremely difficult.
Breakthrough
On April 16th, after months of prevarication, Mr al-Bashir backed down and agreed to the proposed "heavy support package". The UN immediately began two days of frenetic negotiations with AU leaders to liaise on the deployment of the troops. Secretary general Ban Ki-moon said "intensive discussions" had taken place to accelerate the political process by "embracing all rebel leaders".
When asked about the schedule for the deployment, his answer was simple: "as soon as possible".
August 2007: Shaky progress
August 1st saw what Mr Ban described as a "historic and unprecedented resolution" passed in New York. After months of wrangling, the use of force to protect civilians in Sudan's Darfur region was finally approved.
The plan involved the deployment of almost 20,000 military personnel and more than 6,000 police officers, but is not expected to be fully implemented until next year.
Further diplomatic efforts from Mr Ban led to agreement for renewed peace talks between rebels and representatives of the Khartoum government this autumn later in the month. But ongoing instability, and an awareness among leaders of the need to make progress on security, the political process and humanitarian access, mean the international community is far from complacent about the region's prospects.
Khartoum's decision to expel diplomats representing the European Commission and the Canadian government on August 23rd, followed by an Amnesty International report a day later alleging that Khartoum was breaking the international Darfur arms embargo, were a reminder of the continuing tense situation.
Click here for full story
And click here to follow progress in Darfur since September 2007.
Alex Stevenson