Urge Non-African Troops to Deploy in Darfur to Stop the Genocide

Damanga Press Release, 24 May 2005

The Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi hosted a summit of like-minded African leaders on 17 May 2005 at which the decision was reached to reject deployment of non-African troops to Darfur. All countries that believe that genocide should never be allowed to happen again should ignore that immoral decision. African Troops are welcome, but more support is urgently needed, including from forces outside the continent. We urge the Canadians to fulfill their pledge to send troops to Darfur, and we urge other Western countries to follow the Canadian example.

Gaddafi's guests - the leaders of Egypt, Nigeria, Gabon, Chad, Eritrea and Sudan - are not concerned enough about the mass killing and displacement of black Africans in Darfur and instead are prioritizing the protection of the sovereignty of the Sudanese government and by extension the government’s allies in Arab militias or Jangaweed. Most of the atrocities in recent months occurred in the presence of African troops whose deployment to Darfur was accepted by Sudanese leaders in order to avoid effective international action. Damanga like the U.N. Commision of Inquiry and the U.S. State Department has received information demonstrating the atrocities and crimes against humanity being committed in Darfur with the complicity of elements of the Sudanese government.

The Jangaweed continue to kill, rape and evict black Africans from their homes. Some 400,000 people from Darfur have died and 2 million have been forcibly displaced and remain refugees or internally displaced persons. The world should act quickly to end the suffering. The generosity of some African troops is appreciated but more needs to be done. Troops from outside Africa should support the African forces. Armies in the West have more resources and experience in peace enforcement than African troops. Even more important, the leaders in Sudan are most fearful of robust international intervention and that is precisely the reason they are vehemently opposed to it. Sudanese leaders should not be allowed to protect themselves under the notion of 'respect for sovereignty.’ Surely, this notion was not inserted into the UN Charter to protect mass murderers!

In particular, we urge the USA to support the Canadian decision by deploying its own troops to Darfur. Being the most powerful country in the world and a promoter of democracy and human rights, the USA should not waver in supporting victims of genocide around the world. Accordingly, we regret the recent decision of the USA to give a VIP treatment to the chief of Sudan’s security who is behind many of the killings in Sudan. We think it is a short-sighted action that does not enhance the long-term security of Americans. The American people should condemn the decision. The chief of Sudan’s security is a war criminal and the USA should have detained and tried him. A few years ago, he was among those who hosted Osama bin Ladin. At least he should be punished for involvement in the deaths of Americans he is responsible for even if Sudanese lives do not matter.

We thank the students, professors, senators, local NGOs, international agencies and others for supporting the Darfuris in their darkest hours and urge them to continue to pressure all powerful nations in the world to stop the genocide.