World remains paralysed over what to do next in Darfur: ICG

NAIROBI/BRUSSELS, 8 March 2005 (ICG) — The UN Security Council must overcome its divisions over Darfur and act immediately to halt the mounting atrocities and death toll there.

Darfur: The Failure to Protect, the latest report from the International Crisis Group (ICG), examines the deteriorating humanitarian, security and political situation in western Sudan, where atrocity crimes are continuing, people are still dying in large numbers from malnutrition and disease, and famine is feared. Three Security Council resolutions have failed to stem the violence; the fourth, now being debated, must be strong enough to make a difference.

“The world remains paralysed over what to do next in Darfur”, says Suliman Baldo, Crisis Group’s Africa Program Director. “The international response has been rhetorically strong, but it will take a lot more than tough words to stop the killing”.

The key to stabilising the situation is to persuade the government to fulfil its numerous commitments to disarm and neutralise the Janjaweed militia, but it will not do this as long as it believes the cost of inaction is minimal. Altering this calculus requires:
– a Security Council resolution that imposes targeted punitive measures, such as freezing overseas assets of companies the ruling party controls, a travel ban on key officials, and an expanded arms embargo, and authorises investigation, prosecution and adjudication of atrocity crimes documented by the UN Commission of Inquiry by the International Criminal Court (ICC);
– a Security Council authorised no-fly zone over Darfur rigorously monitored by the African Union force, with Council commitment to strong action on violation; and
– a decision to expand the inadequate African Union force in Darfur (less than 2,000 there) to at least 10,000 and strengthen its mandate to protect civilians.

The U.S. government’s general objections to the ICC should not stand in the way, not least because the Court in this instance would be exercising jurisdiction in the manner Washington has always said would be appropriate, via a political decision taken by the Security Council.

Civilian protection needs to become the central focus of the international forces being deployed to Darfur. The African Union mission, which has less than 2,000 troops and police in country, should be greatly expanded — to at least 10,000 — and explicitly empowered to do this.

“The Security Council must focus on protection and accountability. A larger, properly mandated AU-led civilian protection force combined with punitive measures aimed at the perpetrators of the crimes would end the crisis quickly. As always, it is boils down to political will”, says John Prendergast, Special Adviser to Crisis Group’s President.

– To read the full report online please go at http://www.crisisweb.org/home/index.cfm?id=3314&l=1