THE seriousness of the Darfur crisis in Sudan is deepening and the diplomatic pressure on Khartoum of the last few months is now changing to open talk of UN-sanctioned military intervention. The Sudanese government is still arguing that it is caught in a long-running civil war and no outside powers should seek to meddle in its internal affairs. Unfortunately its unhelpful responses to successive diplomatic interventions have strengthened the hand of countries that wish to intervene. It will not be long before no one is interested in hearing Khartoum’s side of events and the focus will be entirely on alleviating the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding for over a million black Sudanese citizens. This is likely also to involve action against the Janjawid militias that have driven this tide of humanity, their fellow Muslims, from its homes and villages in Darfur.
It is astonishing that the Sudanese have not appreciated the world’s immense sensitivity to such human tragedies in the wake of the brutal ethnic cleansing of Rwanda and Bosnia. Their unkept assurances that they would rein in and disarm the Janjawid thugs and their woefully slow authorization of urgent aid flows have allowed many, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to conclude that if not actually complicit in the crimes of Darfur, Khartoum is nevertheless part of the problem. It is already being forgotten that Darfur was a region in rebellion against the central government, which with its continuing struggle against the Sudan Liberation People’s Army in the south, was hard-pressed to meet the challenge. This vacuum presented an opportunity to local hoodlums, who have murdered, raped and plundered their way through much of Darfur. President Omar Bashir has called these thugs “ thieves and bandits “. Unfortunately however there is no evidence that either the Sudanese police or military in Darfur have ever confronted the Janjawid. Indeed there is considerable proof that they have stood by while the ruthless gangs perpetrate some of their bestial attacks.
In the wake of Afghanistan and Iraq, the world does not need another invasion by foreign forces. But that is what could happen 30 days after a probable Security Council resolution demanding Khartoum to act. As a UN member, Sudan has rights as well as responsibilities. It is its right to resolve its internal issues. It is hardly an incapable government. President Bashir is tantalizingly close to concluding peace with the SPLA which will end a conflict that with a brief break has raged since independence in 1956.
His government’s touch has however been far less sure in Darfur. It should use what international diplomatic good will remains to it to seek help to implement a twofold strategy. First, humanitarian aid simply must be facilitated quickly for the region’s refugees and secondly talks must begin to resolve the issues that the people of Darfur have with their government. As part and parcel of both initiatives, the Janjawid must be confronted and its leaders and most active members killed or captured and brought to trial for their cowardly crimes.
