Crisis? What crisis? Darfur

Résumé du document

Is there a crisis in Darfur? This question looks at first sight rather provoking; everybody is aware of what is happening there. It is one of the main international hot spots. All the more so as the horrible events in Darfur are everything but new. However, this conflict takes place while the world looks the other way. Will Darfur just be another example of the United Nations Organization's weakness? The articles we studied are mainly extracted from the newspaper The Economist. They all denounce the international passivity facing a human tragedy and its incapacity to pick up the gauntlet. What is happening in Darfur? How are theoretical guidelines, inspired by human rights and democracy, practically implemented? Why do policymakers and international organizations all look useless? Is the UNO a smokescreen framework which permits to the States to forget basic principles of political duty, when mankind is threatened? Is there an opportunity to put principle into practice, so as to leave this deadlock situation? Firstly, Darfur is the place where an awful tragedy is spreading. In the second part, we will try to understand the international passivity itself, which borders at first sight on pure irrationality. First and foremost, Darfur's tragedy has been going on for three years and a half; slaughters, rapes and civil refugees are increasing day-by-day. A historical and geographical view is likely to be helpful to seize the current situation. Sudan is a former British colony, which reached its independence in 1966. This largest country in Africa has no easy access either to the Red Sea or Indian Ocean.

Extraits

[...] What crisis? Darfour Is there a crisis in Darfur? This question looks at first sight rather provoking; everybody is aware of what is happening there. It is one of the main international hot spots. All the more so as the horrible events in Darfur are everything but new. However, this conflict takes place while the world looks the other way. Will Darfur just be another example of the United Nations Organization's weakness? The articles we studied are mainly extracted from the newspaper The Economist. [...]

[...] International community must abide by international law, even for a country like Sudan which does not respect it. The interference can benefit on the civilians, but no consensus on by-passing the Sudanese government has been found. Logically, NGOs stopping benefiting from protection should leave too, and then, civilians would stop receiving food and health care. This deep crisis would worse day-by-day. As Sudan keeps worsen a stubborn position, the AU mandate continues until December 2006. Borders are stroke by high tensions; refugees go to Tchad when they can. [...]

[...] In a way, UN mobilization is counter-productive, at least useless. The UNO is not the only international organization benefiting from both legitimacy and military force. Is there an alternative to the UNO? Does a limited array of solutions exist? Can we see some shades of grey among the international actors' behaviours? NATO and the European Union could theoretically intervene to bridge the gap or to take over the UNO, but none is eager to do it. The EU has no real military forces. [...]

[...] The South decides of its own future, thanks to a fair degree of autonomy, plus representatives in Khartoum. President Bush favoured the negotiation. He was looking for a solution to cut off Bin Laden from Sudan. The 2003 agreement was seen as a humiliating defeat for the embarrassed government. What has started as a political crisis finally develops into social issues. Muslims are in power, they have planned to implement a society respecting Islamist principles. It is partially the reason why Sudan belongs to the Arab league. [...]

[...] This opposed community of voters would disappear, strengthening Khartoum. As the saying goes, ballot is stronger than the bullet” (Lincoln). Unworthily conflicts emerged from such a tense context, between Black tribes and Janjaweed, fighting for the government of Khartoum. Those very Janjaweed, armed to the teeth, are quite numerous, approximately 12,000. This strong Islamist militia inspires deep terror among civilians. A typical attack is basically a raid on villages, which are finally burned down. They come on camels and horses and commit slaughters. [...]