US hangs sanctions threat over Sudan
UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (AFP) — The United States put forward a draft UN Security Council resolution that could slap sanctions on Sudan if it does not arrest militia leaders behind the catastrophe in troubled Darfur.
The draft, obtained by AFP, said the Sudanese government must bring to justice leaders of the Janjaweed militias who have carried out atrocities in Darfur or face the threat of still unspecified sanctions within 30 days.
The resolution would also impose an immediate arms embargo on Darfur, an enormous area in western Sudan where more than 10,000 people have died and more than a million displaced in 17 months of conflict.
“We would like the government to work with us to honour their commitments,” said US envoy Stuart Holliday.
In an agreement with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan earlier this month, Sudan pledged to punish those responsible for atrocities, disarm the Janjaweed and other militias, let aid workers travel freely, and allow African Union rights monitors.
The conflict began in February 2003 with a rebel uprising against Khartoum, protesting that the largely black African Darfur region had been ignored by the Arab government.
In response, the pro-government Arab militias went on the rampage, carrying out what aid and rights agencies have called a brutal and systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing.
The government has repeatedly denied reports that it has backed the militias, although Human Rights Watch said Monday it had obtained official documents that showed it did.
Despite the government’s pledge to rein them in, Janjaweed attacks are still continuing, Annan said on Wednesday.
US Secretary of State was to meet Annan at UN headquarters in New York later on Thursday to discuss the matter.
“The initial reporting that I have received is very disturbing as to the actions of the Janjaweeds and how the Janjaweeds were supported by the government,” he said in Washington before leaving.
Under the proposed resolution, Annan and the United Nations would report within 30 days of its passage on Sudan’s “progress or lack thereof” in bringing militia leaders to justice.
But there is no automatic trigger mechanism to put the sanctions in place. The Sudanese government warned last week that UN sanctions would not help bring the crisis to an end.
A first version of the US resolution presented last month got a lukewarm welcome from council members, but US officials described this latest version as tougher.
“In 30 days, if there is not compliance, the council will look to take action, including the imposition of sanctions,” US envoy Holliday said.