Reports

Bush Signs Darfur Accountability Act Expanding Sanctions Against Sudan

October 18 , 2006

Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy applauds President Bush’s recent signing of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (DPAA) and his executive order "blocking property of and prohibiting transactions with the Government of Sudan." The DPAA is a positive development and shows the administration's commitment to helping the people of Darfur. However, Damanga Coalition hopes President Bush will take leadership in implementing an immediate UN intervention to stop the geocide.

The DPAA, which was signed into law October 13, augments sanctions already in place against Sudan and ensures continued humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur.

According to the US Department of State website, the White House describes the DPAA as imposing sanctions against "persons responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity; supports measures for the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations; and supports peace efforts in the Darfur region of Sudan.”

Moreover, the executive order specifically forbids transactions relating to Sudan's petroleum and petrochemical industries, sectors in which the president noted that "the Government of Sudan has a pervasive role" that poses a "threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

The executive order exempts certain areas in Sudan, including Southern Sudan, Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State, Blue Nile State, Abyei, Darfur and marginalized areas in and around Khartoum, as long as the activities or transactions do not involve property or interests of the Government of Sudan.

The US has been a leading voice calling for UN intervention in Darfur. President Bush has called the crisis a genocide, and has urged the UN not to "wait any longer to approve a blue-helmeted force, a UN force of peacekeepers, to protect the innocent people."

Currently, the African Union (AU) has a peacekeeping force in Darfur, but it has been ineffective. In August, the UN Security Council authorized sending 20,000 troops and police to take over peacekeeping duties from the AU. But because Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir refuses to accept any western intervention, the UN troops have not been sent.

Meanwhile, the UN estimates that more than 200,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003. Close to 2 million others were displaced into refugee camps in Darfur and eastern Chad.

Damanga Coalition views the DPAA and the president’s executive order as a positive step toward ending the genocide. However, in order for any change to occur in Sudan, a new peacekeeping force must be deployed immediately. Damanga Coalition urges the US to send its own troops to Darfur in light of the UN’s inaction. Damanga Coalition believes there is no reason to respect the sovereignty of the government of Sudan by waiting for consent. The government supports the genocide and clearly will never give its consent. The US must take the initiative to end this terrible crisis.