Isn’t sending humanitarian aid enough?

Simply put, the answer is no. Due to the complexity of the situation in Darfur (or any other crisis for that matter) humanitarian aid alone will not end the crisis. While aid serves an important role in providing for the people of Darfur in the short term, it will not effectively address the root causes of the conflict. Without a political settlement, the need for humanitarian aid will only increase. In light of this, Canada must take a more comprehensive role to ending the crisis in Darfur.

What can Canada contribute to the AU-UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur?

Although Canada’s military presence in Afghanistan precludes it from making a substantial troop contribution to UNAMID, there are many other forms of assistance. Canada can contribute financially to the force to ensure that it has the monetary support it needs to operate. We can also provide military advisors to the mission. Additionally, Canada has the resources to help facilitate and support negotiations between rebel groups and the Government of Sudan.

What about the notion of “African solutions to African problems”?

Some analysts have stated that the African Union (AU) should be left alone to solve the crisis in Darfur. However, the AU has long asked for assistance from the UN as they were unable to control the situation alone due to capacity and resource constraints. Working with UN peacekeepers will provide a learning opportunity for AU peacekeepers. Deploying a joint AU-UN mission to Darfur will help provide security to the people of Darfur in addition to allowing the AU to improve its capacity to deal with future crises.

The Canadian government does not have enough influence in Sudan or internationally to take a leading role in response to the crisis.

Canada is in a unique position to provide leadership in addressing the crisis in Darfur. Although we are not a major world power, we are well respected internationally for our commitments to peacekeeping and human rights. The Responsibility to Protect doctrine originated in Canada, thus we should take a leading role in promoting R2P. Furthermore, Canada lacks a colonial history in Africa, which may enhance our legitimacy as a party in the international dialogue. While Canadian commitment itself may not be the primary factor leading to peace in Darfur, it would provide a precedent for the rest of the international community to follow. The Rwandan genocide provides a prime example of what happens when the nations of the international community act as if there is nothing they can do. Canada has a responsibility to live up to the values we profess to hold – regardless of the extent of our influence.

Sudan has agreed to the UN force – isn’t that enough?

While this is a step forward, the deployment of a peacekeeping force is not enough to ensure a sustainable resolution to the crisis in Darfur. The international community should continue to work at bringing rebel groups and the Government of Sudan together in order to negotiate an end to the crisis.

Isn’t international intervention a violation of Sudan’s state sovereignty?

The UN Chapter VII mandate (which has now been enacted for Sudan) outlines that if a country is not acting in the best interests of their citizens, in particular not protecting them from or actively causing them harm, it is not only the right but also the responsibility of the international community to intervene to protect these citizens.

Hasn’t the situation improved?

The situation may be growing more complex by the day, but it is not improving. According to an August 2007, report by the UN Secretary General, the number of internally displaced persons has now surpassed 2.2 million and the number of conflict-affected people has increased by 500,000 over the summer alone, topping out at 4.2 million people. The lack of rebel unification is currently a pressing issue. To have sustainable peace, all the rebel groups must be willing to come to the table.

With the expulsion of the humanitarian aid groups after Bashir’s indictment by the International Criminal Court, increased conflict in South Sudan, and internally displaced persons camps that grow every year, the situation remains dire.