The Darfur Consortium

An African and International
Civil Society Action for Darfur

Members' Publications

August 2

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
OpEd: Is Darfur Crisis Resolved?
By: Mazin Hammad

Resolution 1769 is not a magic want capable of ending Darfur crisis; nevertheless it is a step in the right direction:

• Conflict between government and rebels was not political in nature but environmental and economic

• Prospects of oil, gas, water, fuel, land fueled the conflict, hardened positions, and led to:

• Desertification at a rate of 100 km a year

• Disappearance of 12% of forests over the past 15 years

• Created one of the largest internally displaced group of people in the world: 5 million

Despite that

• Resolution 1769 will fail if it:

• Did not address the environmental problem that started the whole crisis especially the fighting between Arab and African tribes

• Resolution 1769 is a historic achievement and can be a force of good and can resolve the crisis if all involved parties fulfilled their obligations and responsibilities.

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Sudan Officially Accepts African Union – United Nations Force for Darfur

Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lam Akul announced Sudan accepted resolution 1769, and added:

• We will implement all the stipulations in the resolution and fulfill our obligations

• Sudan is pleased with the resolution because:

• It took into consideration all of Sudan’s recommendations and eliminated items to which it objected

• Chapter 7 is only invoked in case of self-defense by the troops or to protect civilians without violating Sudan’s sovereignty

• It agreed to Sudan’s demands by ensuring the force is mainly African

• It included a section on exit strategy

• The resolution did not refer to past resolutions

Condoleezza Rice welcomed the resolution and Javier Solana lent it his support and urged rebel groups to take part in upcoming Arusha meeting.

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
OpEd: Internationalization of Darfur
By: Yousef Al Kuwaileet

The unanimous adoption of resolution 1769 is very significant:

• Sudan’s objection and stalling tactics did not prevent it

• Sudan’s expectations were contradicted by the will of the international community

• It was approved unanimously despite competing interests in Darfur riches – oil – especially between China and USA

• China approved the resolution because China values its economic ties to the USA more than what it expects to gain from supporting Sudan’s position

• Countries like Sudan fail to see that they are nothing but peons in the fight between superpowers

Darfur crisis is bigger than the Sudanese government because:

• The tragedy has become an international cause

• Sudan’s calculations conflicted with international will

• Sudanese government’s support of the “Janjaweed” is perhaps is the biggest mistake because it opened the door for regional and international powers to interfere

The mystery that remains unanswered is: why do third-world countries refuse internal solutions at the beginning, then shun solutions by their friends? Why do they let things get so much out of hand that it becomes necessary for the international community and super powers to interfere? Why did Sudan fail to resolve the Darfur crisis despite its experience in resolving the crisis in the south, which is a lot more complicated?  The Sudanese government could have used religion – the common denominator of all warring factions in Darfur – to resolve the crisis. 

Resolution 1769 will relieve the Sudanese government of this huge burden even if it is not too enthused about it.

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: US Congress Passes a Bill that Condemns Companies with Ties to Darfur

US Congress approved a bill that condemns companies that invest in Darfur 418 to 1. 
This bill:

• Prevents these companies from bidding on US government contracts

• Allows American unions and organizations to stop retirement funds from investing in Darfur

• Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee said “no one will worry after today that their retirement fund or taxes support genocide”

• Republican Congressman Brad Miller criticized companies that benefit from genocide and added “I refuse to let down Darfur citizens like we failed those of Rwanda”

• The bill will survive the President’s veto because it is supported by a wide majority

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Egypt, European Union, and France Offer to Participate in Hybrid Force, and Sudan Gives 10 Reasons why It Accepted Resolution 1769

Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lam Akul gave 10 reasons why Sudan accepted resolution 1769:

• 1. It respects Sudan’s sovereignty

• 2. It emphasizes cooperation between African Union and United Nations

• 3. The force is mainly African

• 4. It funds African troops till transition to hybrid force

• 5. UN to fund hybrid force

• 6. It urges rebel groups to enter peace negotiations with the government

• 7. It has exit strategy for hybrid forces

• 8. It includes stipulations about the return of refugees and economic development

• 9. It does not mention any of the prior resolutions, and

• 10. Chapter 7 is only invoked in case of self-defense

Ban Ki-Moon described the resolution as “historic and unprecedented” while Zalmay Khalilzad warned the Sudanese government that it would suffer US sanctions if it did not cooperate with the resolution. Egypt, European Union, and France expressed willingness to participate in hybrid force.

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Khartoum Accepted Resolution 1769 after China Warned It of Consequences
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

Sudanese government welcomed Darfur resolution after China was able to convince it was in its best interest. Foreign Minister Lam Akul:

• Promised full cooperation with hybrid force

• Minimized reference to chapter 7

International reaction was positive and supportive:

• Ban Ki-Moon described it as “historic and unprecedented”

• Bernard Kushner said it brings “great hope”

• US welcomed it but warned of new sanctions if Sudan did not cooperate

Also, Egypt, European Union, France, Indonesia, Australia, Denmark offered to participate in hybrid force.

Read the above in Arabic.