Minnawi calls on Obama to take “resolute action” on Darfur crisis

July 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A rebel leader urged the US president Barak Obama to honour his pledges to Darfur people and take “resolute action” to stop atrocities against them twelve years since the eruption of the crisis.

Minni Minnawi, the leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction made his call in a video message released Thursday as Obama starts his first visit to Kenya as US president on Friday. The visit will focus on security and economic matters in Africa during his last presidential trip to the continent.

Minnawi, in his message reminded Obama that he had described atrocities in Darfur as “genocide” and called for a no-fly zone in the western Sudan region where the conflict started in 2003.

“The people of Darfur vividly remember the words you promised (like your former Secretary of State, Madam Hillary Clinton equally did so) when you made it clear and called the genocide in Darfur to be stopped with immediate effect,” he said.

The rebel leader further pointed that “The United States of American was instrumental in the referral of Darfur case to the ICC for the justice to take place, but after more than ten years, the perpetrators are free and even committing more crimes”.

“Mr. President, it is against the background of the above, I, hereby humbly appeal to your Excellency to take resolute action as the people of Darfur are looking at you and still expecting you to fulfil your promise”.

“We can’t say ‘never again’ and allow it to happen again. As President of the United States, I don’t intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter,” said president Obama in 2006.

Advocacy groups and activists blame Obama for ignoring the plight of Darfur people.

However, American diplomats say Washington’s stance and policies against the regime of president Omer al-Bashir remain unchanged and it supports the ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

(ST)