US President again ignores Darfur genocide in ?State of the Union’

AFRICA ACTION

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Ann-Louise Colgan (202) 546-7961

Feb 1, 2006 (WASHINGTON, DC) — Africa Action today
condemned the failure of President Bush to mention the Darfur genocide
in his ?State of the Union’ address for the second year, even as his
Administration acknowledges that this crime against humanity continues
in western Sudan. In a speech that stressed the need for the U.S. to
engage with the world, to reject “isolationism” and to confront
“tyranny” and “evil”, Africa Action emphasized that the failure of the
President to comment on the Darfur genocide and to identify a plan to
stop it contradicts these themes and reveals an unacceptable lack of
commitment to new action on this crisis.

As the U.S. assumes the rotating presidency of the United Nations (UN)
Security Council today, pressure is building for the U.S. to introduce a
new resolution on Darfur that would respond to the urgent need for an
expanded security presence on the ground by (1) “re-hatting” the
existing African Union operation as a UN mission with a robust mandate
to protect civilians and humanitarian operations, and (2) authorizing a
UN peacekeeping force to be deployed to the region as soon as possible.
Thousands of people will participate in a National Call-In Day to the
U.S. mission to the UN today, urging such action in the Security Council
this month.

Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action, said today, “The
President’s abandonment of Darfur in his ?State of the Union’ agenda
belies his stated commitment to ending ?tyranny’ and promoting
?compassion’ in the world. Mr. Bush’s passing reference to “a refugee
fleeing genocide” debases this crime against humanity, and his failure
to offer a plan to address it is absolutely unacceptable. The U.S. must
lead the UN Security Council this month to authorize a robust
international peacekeeping mission to augment the African Union’s
efforts in Darfur.”

Tomorrow, February 2nd, at 12pm, Africa Action will gather scores of
activists for a rally outside the White House to call on the President
to use the opportunity of the U.S. presidency of the UN Security Council
to galvanize international support for a new UN resolution on Darfur.
This event will feature prominent speakers and creative street theater,
as well as an act of civil disobedience by some participants. Next
Wednesday, February 8th, at 12pm, Africa Action will hold a rally and
picket outside the U.S. mission to the UN in New York, highlighting the
need for urgent U.S. action on the Darfur crisis.

Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at
Africa Action, said today, “Despite recent momentum toward new action on
Darfur, and a new consensus on the part of the U.S., UN, and African
Union that a UN mission is needed in Darfur, the substance of the U.S.
commitment to stopping this genocide will be clear in the coming days.
As President of the UN Security Council, anything short of a new
resolution to “re-hat” the African Union and authorize a larger UN
intervention will represent an abandonment of the people of Darfur and a
lost opportunity for the U.S.”

Marie Clarke Brill, Director of Public Education & Mobilization at
Africa Action, said today, “In his second term, President Bush must be
concerned with his own legacy as a leader. He has the power to protect
the people of Darfur by galvanizing international action on this crisis,
yet he is allowing this genocide to continue on his watch. His ?State of
the Union’ address noted America’s “compassion” and “conscience” on
global challenges, but growing numbers of people are challenging the
President to assert leadership on Darfur as a test of his own stated
morals.”

Today’s “National Call-In Day” and tomorrow’s rally at the White House
mark the latest in a series of actions initiated by Africa Action,
focused on the need for U.S. leadership on Darfur at the UN Security
Council this month. Earlier this week, a letter signed by 27 leading
advocacy groups was sent to Ambassador Bolton at the UN, calling for a
new UN resolution authorizing an international peacekeeping intervention
in Darfur as a matter of urgency.

For further analysis on the crisis in Darfur and the opportunity for
U.S. action at the UN Security Council this month, see
http://www.africaaction.org/darfur .