Rolls Royce pulls out of Sudan for Darfur “concerns”
April 18, 2007 (LONDON) – The British leading power-systems company, Rolls Royce announced today their decision to withdraw from Sudan citing “increasing international humanitarian concerns”. This decision follows increasing calls for companies to divest from Sudan and exert financial pressure on as the Sudanese government as the crisis in Darfur worsens.
“In view of increasing international humanitarian concerns about the situation in Darfur, the company recently reviewed its position and has decided it should discontinue business in Sudan. Rolls Royce will immediately cease to pursue any new business in that country and will progressively withdraw from support arising from previously signed contracts.” said a spokesman for Rolls-Royce.
“Rolls Royce believe this is a responsible line to adopt in the current circumstances.” He added.
Rolls Royce make equipment used to pump oil by companies such as Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company. We supply diesel engines to oil and gas companies operating pipelines in the country, he added.
Operations in Sudan amounted to a “very small percentage” of total company revenues, according to the spokesman.
The announcement was made in a letter to Lord Alton of Liverpool who along with Sudan Divestment UK has led calls for financial action by companies and investors as a means of exerting economic pressure on the Government of Sudan.
Responding to the letter, Lord Alton welcomed the move and invited others to follow: “Rolls Royce have made the right decision and credit must be paid to them for taking this decisive action. I hope that the remaining companies with problematic operations in Sudan will follow suit.”
Hamish Falconer Director of Sudan Divestment UK, which campaigns for individuals and institutions to divest from Sudan, said “Rolls Royce’s recognition of the genocide in Darfur and the role of multi-national corporations in the continued atrocities is to be applauded and it is a stark challenge to the other companies whose operations are helping fuel the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Companies can not blinker themselves from the impact they are having on the vulnerable people of Sudan.”
He further said, “There is a genocide in Darfur, and it is funded, in large part by the operation of foreign companies. Rolls Royce has sent a message to Khartoum that there is an economic cost for committing genocide.”
Rolls Royce’s decisive action challenges other companies in Europe, such as the UK based Petrofac, French company Schlumberger, Swedish company Lundin Petroleum.
Sudan Divestment UK campaigns for an end to the genocide in Darfur by encouraging economic action by companies operating in Sudan and investors at home. Sudan Divestment UK has active campaigns across the UK and lobbies the financial sector and governments to take effective action to impose heavy costs for committing and supporting genocide.
Last January, Siemens, Europe’s largest electronics and electrical engineering company pulled out from Sudan. The German firm said its reputation had been hit by its involvement in Sudan, where 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the four-year-old conflict in Darfur.
(ST)