Time running out in Darfur
Editorial, The Chicago Tribune
July 30, 2004 — While most of the world dithers and debates, the slaughter continues in the western Sudanese province of Darfur.
This week African Union monitors reported that on July 3 the Darfurian town of Suleia was attacked by government-supported militias that shackled villagers and burned them alive.
On the same day of the atrocities in Suleia, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan exacted a promise from the Sudanese government to rein in the killer Janjaweed militias and facilitate access of humanitarian aid to the estimated 1 million people forced into refugee camps and others displaced in Darfur.
Annan also convened a summit in Ghana on Thursday to seek “African solutions” to the various humanitarian crises in the continent, including the one in Sudan. Annan also made an urgent appeal to donor countries to increase their aid for humanitarian efforts in Darfur.
Sudan has issued defiant statements against international intervention.
Yet that is precisely what is needed–a series of steps by the world community to compel Sudan to abide by the Annan agreement, disarm the Janjaweed and prosecute its leaders.
There is not great reason to be optimistic that that will happen.
In the last week, the U.S. has proposed three UN resolutions to place sanctions and arms embargoes against Sudan. Russia and China, among other Security Council members, have balked at the threat of military or economic sanctions. Russia reportedly wants to protect its profitable sale of warplanes to Sudan, while China fears risking its access to Sudanese oil.
The latest resolution, presented Thursday, softens the language to a warning that Sudan would face unspecified measures if it does not follow the Annan plan within 30 days. The European Union backs the U.S. initiative. But Russia and China, joined by Pakistan, want to give Sudan more time to comply.
More time for what? The 18-month conflict has killed 30,000 people, forced 1 million people into refugee camps and left 2.2 million others in dire need of food and medical attention.
Waiting only promises to deliver more death and misery. As the rainy season approaches, and it becomes more difficult to bring in humanitarian supplies, the death toll could reach 350,000, according to relief agencies.
Thus far, Sudan has not moved to comply with international demands to stop the killing in Darfur. The world must impose economic sanctions and an arms embargo, with the implicit threat that military intervention could be in the offing.
Military action against the largest country in Africa would be difficult. It would have to be an international effort, with African support. Indeed, Secretary of State Colin Powell has said such action is premature. But the makings are there for such an effort. Britain, Australia and New Zealand have said they’d be willing to contribute to a force to protect Darfurian refugees from the Janjaweed marauders. EU nations might be persuaded to participate. The African Union could increase the 300 troops it has deployed to protect its observers.
The situation in Darfur grows only more extreme. Without forceful international action, dreadful results seem certain.