AFRICA/SUDAN - Feverish diplomatic activity to solve the crisis in Darfur. Possible resolution from the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on militia responsible for violence on civilians

Friday, 23 July 2004

Rome (Fides Service)- International diplomacy is at work to end the tragedy in the western Sudan region of Darfur, where massacres of civilians continue. Today 23 July, both UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and the US secretary of state Colin Powell have called on the Sudanese government to intervene to stop the Arab militia from spreading terror and death in Darfur. At the UN headquarters in New York Annan and Powell discussed a draft resolution put forward by the US threatening sanctions against the government of Sudan unless it arrests the leaders of the Janiawid pro-government militia which is committing atrocities against civilians in Darfur.
Yesterday 22 July, the US Congress approved a resolution which declares that what is happening in Darfur is genocide. Th resolution was approved unanimously by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The vote is all the more significant as the last act before the holidays. US Congress has called on the US Administration to propose a UN resolution for sanctions against those responsible for the atrocities and authorising the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in the region.
The British government is considering the possibility of sending a United Kingdom military mission to Darfur to assist humanitarian operations. The British foreign minister said he will visit the region in August. The African Union intends to send 60 observers to Darfur protected by a military contingent of 300 men at the end of the month. The French foreign minister visited Darfur on 20 July. Now is Sudanese counterpart, Mustafa Osman Ismail, to visit Paris. Ismail has denied the possibility of a British military intervention without the permission of Khartoum.
In the meantime, we recall, Pope John Paul II has sent as his special envoy to Darfur Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, on a mission of solidarity. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2004 righe 34 parole 408)


Share: