Victory for South endangered by genocide in Darfur
Africa Action
Contact: Marie Clarke Brill (202) 546-7961
John Garang Joins Sudanese Government: Victory for South Endangered by Genocide in Darfur
Africa Action Reminds White House that Inauguration Does Not Absolve the U.S. of Responsibility to Help Stop Genocide in Darfur
Monday July 11, 2005 (Washington DC) – Africa Action responded to
Saturday’s inauguration of John Garang as the new First Vice President
of Sudan with an urgent call for greater U.S. leadership to end genocide
in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. Saturday’s event precedes next
month’s creation of a new Sudanese government and coincides with recent
progress in the Darfur peace talks being held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Africa Action, today, welcomed this next stage in the implementation of
the North-South peace accords and characterized it as a victory for the
people of Southern Sudan and northern pro-democracy forces. The
organization cautioned, however, that despite the developments in Abuja,
genocide continues in Darfur, putting at risk comprehensive peace in Sudan.
Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action said, “While Dr.
Garang’s inauguration marks the next important step in the process
towards peace between South and North, it does nothing to ensure peace
in the West and East of Sudan. The Southern Sudanese will continue to
require the support of the international community in order to uphold
the peace agreement, and this support must not come at the expense of
strong multinational action to stop genocide in Darfur.”
Marie Clarke Brill, Director of Public Education and Mobilization at
Africa Action said, “Genocide is a crime against humanity, and as such,
requires an international response. Just as the international community
has been hiding behind the African Union and the slogan, ‘African
Solutions to African Problems’, there is a danger that the U.S. will use
this inauguration as a further excuse for inaction. Americans must
continue to raise their voices and demand an immediate multinational
humanitarian intervention in Darfur.”
Africa Action also noted that while recent reports indicate a reduced
number of deaths in the past month by direct violence, the death toll
continues to rise due to conditions created by the genocide. Booker
said, “First the Government in Khartoum destroyed villages and
livelihoods forcing millions to become homeless and desperate for
assistance. Now it is purposefully cutting off needed humanitarian aid
causing death by starvation or dehydration. This is as much an act of
genocide by the Sudanese government as rapes and murders. Genocide is
not over in Darfur. A multinational intervention in support of the
African Union is still urgently needed to protect the people of Darfur,
both from guns and torches and to open supply routes for lifesaving
humanitarian aid.”
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“The only thing dark about Africa is our ignorance of it” – Anon
– Mvuselelo Ngcoya
– Dpt. of Policy Analysis and Communication
– Africa Action
– 1634 Eye Street NW, #810
– Washington D.C. 20011
– www.africaaction.org
– Tel: 202-546 7961 Fax: 202 546 1545