The recent expulsion of Jan Pronk, head of the UN’s mission in Sudan can indicate that things in Sudan have turned from bad to worse. The situation in Darfur has gone on for too long costing lives as well as property, so far attempts at putting an end to the cycle of violence have gone on with little progress. Sudan’s continued resistance to the presence of a stronger international pressure to end the conflict in Darfur can only be deemed counterproductive towards the efforts made by the AU, UN and the international community at large.
Sudan, Africa’s largest country has been wracked by civil war since independence in 1956, as fighting started in Sudan. It has also suffered repeated famine over the past 20 years. All these have been calls for help from the international community. The Darfur peace talks are stumbling with people being displaced in camps after a series of attacks made on villages. The sad state of affairs in Darfur which started in 2003 just as the north-south war was coming to an end, and in the space of 18 months reprised the main themes of that war. Equity, power sharing were some of the issues that were raised by rebels. The involvement of external parties such as Eritrea continues to have a looming threat in the affairs of Sudan. Though organized killings have now virtually stopped, several million people are displaced and angry, and law and order has collapsed. The African Union is trying to mediate, but its efforts are hampered by rebel disorganisation and the fact that many of the areas of Darfurian grievance are considered a closed book because they have already been dealt with in the north-south talks. The key to end the conflict rests on the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels’ resolve to end the bloodshed.
Third parties too need to show a united front backed by a carrot and stick approach. The UN has so far delayed any full fledged involvement that can only be reminiscent of the Rwandese genocide. We should all know that prolonging intervention could only mean deaths and devastation. A clear UN mandate with the option of using force top protect civilians should be adopted, the security Council should do away with the act of forgoing human rights for the sake of economic gains. The situation in darfur is a test towards the UN’s integrity in seeing peace prevail in Africa. Divisions in the Security Council should end with renewed commitment towards fostering peace.
These and other crucial issues define the challenges that face Sudan and the wider region of the horn. The African Union and the United Nations would do well to follow up brokering peace in East Africa and bringing back peace and stability, engaging in these critical national and regional issues. There is an urgent need for setting up war crime tribunals in Africa though charges being brought against Charles Taylor et al is a momentous step towards sending a clear message to war lords. The AU, UN and regional blocs need to move towards strengthening this initiative. We all need to put instigators of conflict to book, a fresh approach needs to be put in place here whereby the political root causes of conflicts are dealt with before conflicts escalate. So far, all efforts by the West to end the post-colonial conflicts have failed. Poverty has to be reduced, and the illegal trading of weapons, diamonds and other natural treasures must be stopped. The role of the West can seem little but delivering their part can help Africans a lot however will have to find their own way.
We started this millennium with the promise of making an African century where we would undo all the bad that we have experienced. If one place a map of Africa in front oneself, one can see that all four corners are in crisis. Can we not end the cycle of conflict that persists in Africa, can we not come up with a resolve to never again go back to the days of civil wars? Is reconciliation so difficult to attain in Africa? We all need to brood over these issues. The task is not only for Africa but also involves the west whose dollars have for decades now fueled conflicts in Africa. We cannot continue in our quest for lasting peace half heartedly - sacrifices have to be made.