What’s Happening in Darfur?

In response to many decades of political and economic marginalization by the central government, Darfuri rebels started an armed rebellion in early 2003 when they attacked government military assets in Darfur.  The Government of Sudan responded with a well-organized and systematic campaign to wipe out the civilian groups of Darfur associated with the rebels.  Well into its sixth year, the conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of civilian lives. Around 2.5 million additional civilians have fled their homes and live in dreadful conditions in displacement camps in Darfur, or in refugee camps in neighboring countries. To date, over 3,000 Darfuri villages have been destroyed. The vast majority contained no rebels when they were razed as their inhabitants were killed, maimed, tortured, raped, or displaced.

In July 2004, the U.S. Congress asserted that Khartoum’s counterinsurgency constituted genocide. In January 2005, a U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded that “Government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur.” Since early 2004, the Security Council has also passed more than two dozen resolutions concerning the situation in Darfur. Khartoum has violated nearly every single provision in them, seemingly without consequence. To date, the member states of the Security Council have failed to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to end this man-made tragedy.

Protection

Though the Security Council authorized a robust peacekeeping force to protect civilians in July 2007, the mission has been bogged down by logistical difficulties and a relentless campaign of governmental obstruction. More than a year after it was authorized, the peacekeeping force remains only partially deployed and without the most basic equipment to facilitate its mission. African nations have committed troops, but other countries have refused to provide the helicopters and ground transport necessary to make the mission minimally successful.  Peace remains elusive and the people of Darfur are as vulnerable as ever. 

Justice and Accountability

In March 2005, the Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. In early 2007, the ICC issued arrest warrants for two senior officials on 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In July 2008, the ICC chief prosecutor filed an application for another arrest warrant, this time for the president of Sudan who stands accused of 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Since then, much diplomatic activity has been devoted to supporting or resisting an arrest warrant for the President, while reports on the continuing attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarian workers and the stagnating deployment of additional troops and equipment have receded into the background.

Peace Making

Although the United Nations has recently appointed another envoy to focus on ending the Darfur crisis, little coordinated diplomatic energy has been spent to induce a quick end to the suffering of Darfuris.  As of today, there has been no concerted unified demand made to those most responsible for the suffering in Darfur by those countries with the most influence over them including the governments of the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom.

What Must Be Done

Much has been done so far.  Many countries, led by the United States, have contributed billions of dollars to relief efforts to keep displaced Darfuris alive.  The United Nations has put the beginnings of a protection force on the ground in Darfur and has authorized the ICC to investigate the crimes being committed.  But so far, this has all been about managing the crisis.

The Security Council’s member states must now pursue a comprehensive strategy aimed at ending the suffering in Darfur, as well as ensuring an overall peace for all of Sudan.  This requires coordinated diplomatic effort among the most influential nations to provide the resources necessary to allow the protection force to begin fulfilling its mandate, support for the ICC, and adamant efforts to conclude a peace agreement supported and endorsed by Darfuris. 

 

Learn more about the situation in Darfur: Download a briefing paper in PDF format.