UN force authorised for Darfur: now is the moment of greatest risk

August 1, 2007 — Last night’s UN Security Council resolution mandating over 19,000 troops and over 6,000 police for Darfur, with authorisation to use force to protect civilians, has been welcomed by campaigners as a landmark step in the right direction. Aegis has been calling for a force of over 25,000 troops with a Chapter VII mandate since publishing a dossier on the issue in May 2005.

“Prime Minister Brown and President Sarkozy deserve credit for their leadership in tabling this resolution at the UN,” says Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. “This also represents a success for years of work by campaigners and members of the public who have taken part in demonstrations and contacted their elected representatives to let them know they care about what happens in Darfur.

“However, the crisis isn’t over yet. Deployment of the new force should be recognised as a means to an end. Now will be the moment of greatest danger for Darfur if we take our eyes off the crisis and treat this resolution as an assurance that everything is in hand; it isn’t.”

Food shortages in Darfur are worsening, the rainy season is leading to some of the most severe flooding the region has ever seen, and insecurity in some parts of Darfur is as serious as at any time since 2003, making it increasingly difficult for humanitarian agencies on the ground to operate effectively. And Sudanese troops and Janjaweed militia are still conducting ethnic cleansing, particularly in south Darfur.

“They now know that if the international community does get its act together and deliver an effective force, they have a window of three to five months to try to finish the job,” says Dr Smith. “History shows that those carrying out ethnic cleansing often increase the pace when they know their time is limited.

“We need an increased media spotlight on Darfur, to let Sudan know that the world is watching. We need greater short-term assistance to the African Union Mission in Darfur, to improve security on the ground before the full UN/AU mission is established later this year. And we need troop-contributing and wealthy nations to move quickly to ensure the newly authorised mission arrives on time and at full strength.”

The political process must also be rejuvenated. Some of the major Darfuri African rebel groups, meeting in Libya, are working to establish a joint position for negotiation with Khartoum, ahead of new peace talks in Arusha this coming weekend. Those not prepared to negotiate constructively should be aware that the international community is losing patience with them.

Beyond deployment of the new force, the reversal of four years of ethnic cleansing must begin. Sudan is already reinforcing its efforts to change the demography of Darfur by settling Arabs in villages cleared of their African communities.

“The refugees and internally displaced people, corralled in their camps, must be given security by the international force – and by a new agreement between the rebels and Khartoum – to return home,” says John Petrie, Executive Director of the Aegis Trust. “Only when the IDPs can go home in safety will the end of this crisis really be in sight.

ENDS

For more information, or to arrange interviews, contact Head of Media David Brown, mobile: +44 (0)7921 47985, email: [email protected]