Sudan denies Darfur conflict is genocide
BRUSSELS, July 26 (Reuters) – Sudan denied the conflict in its western Darfur region that has killed 30,000 people was genocide, saying on Monday the term was being used by foreign politicians for their own ends.
“What is happening in Darfur is no genocide,” Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said in an interview with Belgian daily De Standaard published on Monday.
Many countries have demanded Khartoum disarm Arab militias in the arid region accused of mounting a scorched earth policy against black Africans that the U.S. Congress has branded genocide. The United Nations says 30,000 people have been killed.
“That (the U.S. Congress labeling) is prejudicial. The African Union has concluded there is no question of genocide. I have more confidence in its judgment,” Ismail said.
“It’s an election year in the United States. Deputies of both parties are targeting the vote of black Americans and present themselves as the protectors of the African interests.”
The United States and the European Union on Sunday stepped up warnings of sanctions unless Sudan halts the conflict.
The Netherlands, which holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, said on Sunday sanctions were not needed yet but the world would eventually impose them if Khartoum did not act.
Ismail had talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot at the weekend and EU foreign ministers were due to discuss Darfur at a meeting on Monday.
Solana told the Sudanese minister his country must act immediately against Janjaweed Arab militias.
Ismail told the paper “more than 100 Janjaweed militia members had been arrested” and rejected accusations of government involvement in violence.
He said Khartoum was making “serious efforts” to correct the situation and that progress in terms of safety and humanitarian aid had been achieved.
“We are doing what is right and we will continue to do what is right,” Ismail said.
He denounced as forgeries documents that rights group Human Rights Watch earlier unveiled, apparently showing clear government support for the Janjaweed.