Responding to American pressure the Western media is escalating the campaign against the government of Sudan under the pretext that humanitarian situation is worsening in Darfur province. While the media is busy leveling accusations against Khartoum — one charge is it is committing ethnic cleansing in the troubled region — the American administration instructed the Pentagon to draw up a military plan to intervene militarily and occupy Darfur.
Making use of the prevailing international conditions, the administration told the Pentagon the war against Sudan should be swift and short, not lasting more than four days, and should focus on separating the region from the rest of the country and forcing the Sudanese government to surrender the province.
From the media reports, it is clear the Israeli lobby is behind the plan. The lobby managed to persuade the American administration that it was wise to occupy Darfur under the pretext of protecting its population of African origin. This would definitely reflect on the presidential election, giving the administration the support it needed in its campaign by helping it win over Afro-American voters.
American Jewish groups see a golden opportunity to attack Islam in Sudan, giving a boost to the war against terrorism that President George Bush sees as the most important issue in the presidential election.
Not only that, occupying Darfur would pave the way for dividing Sudan. This would in a short time make it easier to put more pressure on Egypt to force it to provide Israel with water from the Nile and open the door before Jewish companies, whether American or Israeli, to plunder the huge natural resource, including oil and uranium, that have been proven to exist in large quantities in Darfur.
The troubling developments in Darfur prompted Africa to move. A five-nation summit was held in the Libyan capital Tripoli recently bringing together the leaders of Sudan, Libya, Niger, Chad and Nigeria whose president chairs the African Union. The summit “rejected any foreign intervention in Darfur” declaring the crisis a purely African affair, called on the two rebel movements in Darfur to expediently sign the humanitarian protocol reached at the last round of peace talks held in the Nigerian capital Abuja in September.
The five leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Sudan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs. They said the crisis should be resolved within the framework of the African Union.
The summit set a number of points for the solution of the problem:
• It urged the international community to help the government of Sudan and take necessary steps to face the humanitarian situation in the province.
• Supported the Sudanese government in its attempt to implement its agreement with the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
• Urged all African countries to increase their support and assistance to the African Union.
• Egypt is to continue hosting dialogue between the Sudanese government and the opposition National Democratic Alliance which is seen as a precursor for more talks among the various Sudanese groups.
• Consultations are to be held between the United States and the European Union to secure logistical and financial support for the African peace force charged with the task of monitoring the security situation in the province.
The summit sought to contain the crisis within the African framework by rejecting all attempts to internationalize it. It was a serious attempt by African leaders to establish peace in Sudan in a manner that will reflect positively on the entire population of the country.
The summit identified the elements for a solution to the crisis. The question remains whether the Western powers would accept a realistic and just solution or opt to pursue their own interests amid continued Israeli attempts to torpedo any African solution.
