The Current Situation in Darfur
More then five years into the crisis in Darfur, insecurity continues to displace people, humanitarian operations are coming under attack, and a political settlement appears distant. Over 4.5 million people are now affected by the crisis, many of which depend on humanitarian assistance to survive. As the crisis continues, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are reaching capacity. Furthermore, despite the presence of large-scale humanitarian efforts throughout Darfur, the UN announced that malnutrition rates among children rose throughout 2007, reaching the World Health Organization’s “emergency threshold” for the first time since 2004.
Rebel groups have continued to splinter, adding to the complexity of the crisis and increasing the number of confrontations on the ground. In late October 2007 peace talks opened in Libya. However, it quickly became evident that the talks would not be successful after key rebel groups did not attend and those who were present lacked a coherent set of demands. Lack of rebel unity will continue to obstruct the peace process unless efforts are taken to unify rebel groups.
Over the last year humanitarian aid workers increasingly found themselves under attack, thus jeopardizing the very operations that sustain so many people in Darfur. Insecurity has created a climate where humanitarian vehicles are hijacked, staffers are intimidated, assaulted, and in some cases even killed. Meanwhile, the perpetrators are rarely held accountable.
Some hope came with the deployment of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in January 2008. Night patrols by UNAMID, which are aimed at increasing security in the face of armed militias, are being counted among the mission’s earliest successes. However, as of February, only 9,000 of the expected 26,000 troops had been deployed and the mission lacked key equipment, including helicopters. Furthermore, the restrictions imposed on UNAMID by the Sudanese government could jeopardize the success of the mission.
Yet despite the complexities of the situation on the ground there is hope that a concerted international effort could end the crisis and bring peace to Darfur. This can be achieved by strengthening UNAMID, working to unify rebel groups in Darfur, and putting pressure on the Sudanese government. Canada can contribute to ending the crisis in Darfur in five key ways.
1. Canada and other countries can play a critical role in providing resources and mission support to UNAMID. Most African countries lack the military equipment, specifically armored vehicles, that are a necessity due to the size and geography of the region. Canada can provide expert help and equipment in areas including communications, logistics and command that are critical to mission success.
2. As negotiations to end the conflict in Darfur are entering a renewed phase, Canada has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to Darfur by appointing a Special Envoy to focus on the crisis.
3. Rebel unification is an important precondition to peace in Darfur, yet rebel groups have become increasingly fragmented as the crisis in Darfur continues. The Canadian Government can play a role in working with other countries to unify rebels.
4. Targeted divestment remains an important means for putting pressure on the Sudanese government to support peace in Darfur. The Canadian government should pursue targeted divestment from Sudan conditioned on the Sudanese government's cessation of atrocities in Darfur and active engagement in the peace process.
5. Canada, as a key player in the formation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Sudan's long-running north-south civil war, must be more vocal about the increasing number of missed deadlines relating to the CPA. If Khartoum is not held accountable to the CPA, it is less likely to adhere to future peace agreements relating to Darfur, and a renewal of north-south violence would have disastrous consequences for Darfur.