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| June 27, 2008 |
Failure
For the past 18 months, Jan Eliasson and his African Union counterpart, Salim Ahmed Salim, have been leading the UN's peace efforts in Sudan. This week both negotiators have quit, admitting they have failed in their efforts to secure a peace process in Sudan.Over the past year, levels of violence in Darfur have dramatically increased. In this anarchic and violent region, aid workers face daily attacks on both humanitarian compounds and food convoys. As a result, food rations for displaced civilians already struggling with hunger and sickness were cut by almost half.
A fraction of the UN authorized protection force of 26,000 has deployed but security continues to deteriorate.
The Sudanese government policy of obstruction has prevented the full deployment.
Mr. Eliasson told the press, "If we don't have a mobilization of energy from the international community we risk a major humanitarian disaster again. The margins of survival are so slim for the people of Darfur."
An effective process would require that the Government of Sudan cease all attacks upon civilians and that the almost 30 rebel groups find their common ground and cease hostilities. Neighbors Libya and Chad need to be on board, and the international community must commit to pursuing peace negotiations much more vigorously. None of this is on the horizon.
Dr James Smith, of Aegis Trust, said. "At the moment it is going nowhere, but unless a new negotiator has new carrots or sticks it's destined to fail. The situation is unbelievably bleak."