Save Darfur

The Issue

Since the Darfur crisis broke out in 2003, over 400,000 people have been killed and over 2 million have been displaced in the Darfur region of Sudan. The international community has been agonisingly slow to react to the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing.

On August 1^st this year the UN Security Council at long last passed resolution 1769, mandating a hybrid UN/ African Union peacekeeping force of 26,000 to be deployed to Darfur. Although this is a positive step, this does not necessarily mean an end to the killings on the ground; Sudan has repeatedly blocked moves to deploy peacekeepers in the region.

The UK government is to be applauded for its role in tabling this resolution. However, the resolution itself must be implemented swiftly and effectively if it is to make any difference to the lives of Darfuri men, women and children.

Our Demands

In order to fully and swiftly implement Resolution 1769 and thereby help realize the twin goals of peace and protection, the UK must play its part in providing resources for the AU-UN hybrid force. Although the hybrid force will be funded by the UN, provision of technical and logistical assistance, including adequate air lift capacity for the AMIS and UNAMID to move personnel and resources, is vital.

The UK must help to provide the equipment and logistical assistance required by the AU-UN hybrid force.

The Government of Sudan has broken too many promises in Darfur. It is essential that the international community holds the government of Sudan to its commitments to facilitate it deployment.

The UK should ensure that Darfur remains at the top of UN Security Council agenda. Any obstruction of the hybrid force by the Government of Sudan must be met with the imposition of compliance measures.

If there is to be an end to the violence in Darfur, there must be an effective and inclusive peace process to arrive at a final political solution to the conflict, thereby allowing IDPs and refugees to safely and voluntarily return home.

The UK should push, at EU and UN level, for a comprehensive peace process that includes and addresses the demands of ordinary Darfuri communities of all ethnicities, rather than a quick fix imposed through deadline diplomacy. The UK must work more closely with the Joint Mediation Support Team to ensure that it provides effective and transparent leadership of the peace process.

The deadline for the peacekeeping force is fast approaching; people continue to die in their thousands, so act now and this Autumn term: Save Darfur.