Arab League must take a stand for peace in Darfur

The Darfur Consortium

– Contact: Dismas Nkunda +1-646-546-7152

KAMPALA, March 22, 2005 — The Arab League must make peace in Darfur an
urgent priority as it begins its Summit in Algiers the Darfur Consortium, an
umbrella group of primarily Africa-based civil society organizations, said
today. Support from Arab League States for the African Union mission in
Darfur and prosecution of those responsible for atrocities in Darfur is
critical to the attainment of peace.

The Darfur Consortium is a network of African organizations committed to
engaging constructively with governments in Africa and around the world to
bring about a lasting, peaceful and just resolution to the ongoing violence
in Darfur.

A recent mission of the Darfur Consortium to Sudan and Eastern Chad
identified two paramount concerns of victims and civil society: ensuring
protection for civilians and bringing those responsible for atrocities in
Darfur to justice. Addressing these two imperatives is essential for
achieving sustainable peace and establishing security in the region.
Mechanisms are already in place, but need additional support from the Arab
League and the international community in order to ensure their
effectiveness.

First, the African Union has already deployed a mission and peacekeeping
force to Darfur. With support by States of the Arab League for the provision
a more robust mandate and additional technical and financial assistance, the
AU mission could significantly improve the lives of civilians in Darfur.

Second, a referral of the situation of Darfur to the International Criminal
Court (ICC) by the UN Security Council would be an important first step in
achieving justice for the victims of the most atrocious crimes and
discouraging further violations. “We believe that the ICC is the most
impartial and efficient mechanism for addressing the need for justice in
Darfur,” said Taher Boumedra, Secretary-General of the African Society of
International and Comparative Law. “Support by States of the Arab League for
such a referral is entirely compatible with the vital additional efforts to
achieve justice which must continue both in Sudan and within the AU in order
to ensure peace, accountability and reconciliation.”

As an organization which includes some of Sudan’s closest neighbors, the
Arab League is a vital partner of the people of Darfur and all of Sudan in
the quest for peace. In April/May of last year the Arab League conducted a
mission to, and assessment of, the situation in Darfur. With more than
180,000 estimated to have died as a result of the conflict and more than two
million forced to flee their homes, the people of Darfur need this
international support now. “It is our hope that Algeria, both as host of
this consultation, and as a member of the Security Council, will take the
lead in calling for effective action to protect the people of Darfur,” said
Dismas Nkunda, a representative of the Consortium.

– Olivia Bueno (on behalf of the Darfur Consortium)
Research and Communications Coordinator
International Refugee Rights Initiative
– c/o the Social Science Research Council
– 810 Seventh Avenue
– New York, NY 10018
– Phone: 1-212-377-2700 ext. 416
– Fax: 1-212-377-2727
– E-mail: [email protected]
– Web: www.darfurconsortium.org