Genocide? You decide

Category: Genocide

The situation in Darfur is more commonly referred to as a “humanitarian catastrophe” than as genocide. The United States was the first nation to label the conflict“genocide” and it is also the first time that the United States has deemed the conflict “genocide” while still ongoing. A UN report commissioned in 2004 (as a result of the Security Council Resolution 1564) reported that while there mere mass murders, rapes, and destruction of property in Darfur, the “genocidal intent” could not be established. The UN Secretary-General's Commission of Inquiry on Darfur established a connection between the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government and handed over its findings to the International Criminal Court which has yet to bring “genocide” charges against any guilty parties. In 2007, a mission led by Nobel Prize Winner Jody Williams attempted to enter the Sudan and establish if the situation could be deemed genocide but was denied entry into the country by the Sudanese government. This lack of transparency on the government’s part is reminiscent of historic genocides and was stressed in the Mission’s report. The United Nations Human Rights Council reported in 2007 that the Sudanese government was failing in its commitments to the protecting the human rights of its citizens but stopped short of labeling the conflict genocide or directly implicating the government in the Janjaweed’s actions. In 2005, the US Congress passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act which calls upon the US government to take an active role in fighting the genocide and endorses a Chapter VII Security Council Mandate in Darfur. So far, no other nation has gone as far as this in condemning the actions of the Janjaweed as genocidal.

In 2004, the former US Secretary of State Colin Powell declared:
“Genocide has occurred in Darfur and that the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility, and that genocide may still be continuing.”

In 2005, the UN Commission on Darfur reported;

“ In particular, the commission found that government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur…."These acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis, and therefore may amount to crimes against humanity…."The crucial element of genocidal intent appears to be missing, at least as far as the central government authorities are concerned. Generally speaking, the policy of attacking, killing and forcibly displacing members of some tribes does not evince a specific intent to annihilate, in whole or in part, a group distinguished on racial, ethnic, national or religious grounds."

Other international institutions such as Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and the African Union have failed to declare Darfur a genocide.

(In our opinion): The situation in Darfur is clearly a genocide. While the issue of "genocidal intent" might still be debatable in regard to Darfur, it is clear that the Janjaweed is engaged in the systematic murder, rape, and torture of non-Muslims in Darfur. The government of the Sudan is clearly guilty of at least conspiracy to commit genocide becuase of its endorsement and active trade of arms and other equipment with the Janjaweed. The international community must call the situation what it is in order to take the necessary actions to diffuse the situation and to punish those guilty of genocidial crimes and of crimes against humanity. So far, no one has been brought up on genocidal charges regarding the situation in the Sudan.