Campaign to Stop Genocide in Darfur
Since early 2003, the government of Sudan has been waging a campaign
of genocide against targeted African communities in Darfur, western Sudan.
In September 2004, the Bush Administration rightfully recognized that
genocide was taking place in Darfur, yet the U.S. has failed to respond
to this crisis with the urgency that is required. As the death toll in
Darfur continues to mount, it is clear that nothing short of international
intervention can protect the people of Darfur and stop this genocide.
Over 450,000 people have lost their lives in Darfur since the genocide
began. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced, their livelihoods
and villages destroyed by government forces and their proxy militias,
and many thousands of women and girls have been raped by these forces.
Recent reports confirm that – despite the Darfur Peace Agreement
signed in May 2006 – the government-sponsored violence continues
in Darfur and the security situation is deteriorating. The humanitarian
crisis that forms part of the genocide is escalating, as the government
of Sudan continues to obstruct humanitarian operations, creating famine
conditions for millions of vulnerable people.
As the genocide continues, our most important priority must be to provide
protection to the people of Darfur. The African Union (AU) has shown important
leadership, and its mission in Darfur is doing what it can in the face
of growing insecurity. But the AU cannot address this crisis alone, nor
should it have to. Genocide is an international crime, and it requires
an urgent international response.
On August 31, 2006, the United Nations (UN) Security Council passed Resolution
1706, authorizing the deployment of international peacekeepers to Darfur.
Now, the Sudanese government and its allies on the Security Council are
blocking progress towards the implementation of this plan.
An international intervention is essential to support the AU’s efforts,
and can achieve four critical purposes: (1) stop the killing and provide
security for millions of internally displaced people (IDPs); (2) facilitate
the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance; (3) enforce the AU cease-fire
established by the Darfur Peace Agreement between the government of Sudan
and one of the rebel groups; and (4) facilitate the voluntary return of
IDPs to their land and the reconstruction of their homes by providing
a secure environment.
The U.S. is the only government that has rightfully recognized that genocide
is taking place in Darfur, and this brings with it a particular obligation
to act. The U.S. also has a unique capacity, as the most powerful country
in the world, to assert strong leadership and encourage international
action to protect civilians and stop the genocide in Darfur.
The Bush Administration has provided humanitarian assistance for Darfur,
and has given limited logistical support to the African Union mission,
but it has failed to mount an urgent response to the ongoing genocide.
The Bush Administration has equivocated on Darfur in part because it wishes
to maintain an intelligence-sharing partnership with the Khartoum government
in the interests of the so-called “War on Terror”. But genocide
is a unique crime and it requires a unique and urgent response. Thousands
of lives can still be saved if action is taken now.
Africa Action’s Campaign to Stop Genocide in Darfur is
calling on the U.S. to work with the United Nations (UN) to provide the
African Union force with a strong mandate under the UN Charter and additional
resources to enable it to protect civilians until such time as an international
force can be deployed to the region. Africa Action is calling on the U.S.
to ensure that Resolution 1706 is implemented and that a robust international
force is sent to Darfur as soon as possible, to support the AU and to
protect the people of Darfur. To do so, U.S. leaders must be fully engaged
in efforts to break the current diplomatic deadlock around the deployment
of international peacekeepers.
Just over a decade ago, the U.S. blocked international action as genocide
unfolded in Rwanda, and 800,000 lives were lost. Government officials
who remained silent during the Rwandan genocide often claim that if Americans
had clamored for more government action, the U.S. would have had to work
with the UN to intervene, and could have saved hundreds of thousands of
lives. Today, this provides Americans with unique power to protect the
people of Darfur. We must push the U.S. to do everything necessary to
ensure the deployment of an international force to stop the genocide in
Darfur as a critical first step to bringing peace and stability to this
troubled region.
Check out our “Campaign
Updates” for more information on our current initiatives to
change U.S. policy on this issue.
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Campaign to Stop Genocide in Darfur
