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February 18, 2010 | Avoiding Another Disaster in Sudan

Enver Ferhatović: As Sudan prepares for general elections this year and a secession referendum next year, the international community needs to help form a plan to avoid post-election violence. Sudan will over the next couple of years remain one of the major test-cases of the effectiveness of an EU common foreign and security policy.

July 31, 2008 | Bashir's Prosecution Will Not Ruin the Chances for Peace in Darfur

Ariela Blätter: Many fear that the International Criminal Court’s charges against the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir will have “disastrous consequences” for the peace process in Darfur. This, however, could only be true if there was evidence of a real and substantive peace process in the first place.

May 3, 2012 | The Return of the 22-Year Civil War

Sudan has been at war with itself since gaining independence. ++ The positive impacts of Southern Sudan post-secession, when the region’s voters supported a split in an internationally backed referendum last year, have been slow to mature. ++ For starters, it is still unclear how the north will be compensated for the loss of its oil wells amounting to $7 billion, nor has the demarcation line

January 24, 2012 | Stopping Genocide in Sudan

South Africa must resume its role as a mediator in Sudan. ++ Accelerating violence and the military seizure of Abyei by the Khartoum regime signal that war has restarted. ++ It is scandalous that three leading officials indicted for genocide, including President Omar al-Bashir, are still in office. ++ A targeted no-fly zone should be put in place in South Kordofan to stop the bombing and

July 8, 2011 | New Nation Laden with Old Conflicts

South Sudan will celebrate its independence as the world’s newest nation Saturday. ++ But after the confetti drops, it will immediately become one of its most underdeveloped countries. A fifty-year civil war with the north has killed millions, and ongoing skirmishes in border regions threaten to weaken the new state. ++ Despite deep hatreds between south and north, though, there are also

April 22, 2010 | Obama Should Never Placate a Dictator

Despite pledging to pressure Sudan during his campaign, Obama has failed to take action to combat crimes against humanity committed by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. ++ Moreover, he sent a special envoy who approved of a corrupt election and has not yet addressed the separatist movement in the country’s oil-rich south. ++ “Memo to Mr. Obama: When a man who has been charged with crimes against

January 27, 2010 | Southern and Northern Sudan Likely to Divorce in 2011

Southern Sudan is projected to vote for secession from the North in 2011 elections to be held under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). ++ This “failed marriage” of the North and South is unlikely to have an amicable divorce. ++ The US and the UK need to “stop pretending that the marriage can be saved, accept the reality, and help broker an agreement that prepares for the

October 21, 2009 | Obama Should Engage Sudan Carefully

Washington is set to “replace a punishment-heavy approach with one that is more balanced” toward Sudan. ++ President Obama has cited fears of a new terrorist safe haven as the reason for offering talks with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court. ++ Despite the fact that sanctions will still exist, it is surprising that Obama is

March 6, 2009 | Stop "Show Justice" in Sudan

Mr. Bashir should undoubtedly be arrested. ++ As the President of Sudan, he cannot ignore the atrocities being committed in Darfur. ++ Whether the arrest warrant issued by the ICC will have a real impact on stopping the hostilities is another matter. ++ As Sudan has not ratified the statute of the ICC, Mr Bashir can invoke personal immunity which leaves the arrest warrant deprived of any effect.

December 12, 2008 | Delaying Indictments on Sudan Requires Peace Talks

The international community has done little to end the atrocities committed by Sudanese militia in Darfur. ++ President Bashir has pledged to punish “anyone guilty of crimes in Darfur.” ++ The African Union as well as the Arab League are pressing the UNSC to delay an indictment, arguing that it would threaten peace talks. ++ The US should stick to its promise of blocking any such

November 24, 2008 | Human Rights Watch Praises Bush on Darfur Stance

Despite opposition to the ICC, President Bush is backing its prosecution of President Omar al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur. ++ Sudan is trying to both charm and blackmail members of the Security Council to postpone ICC action by promising the resignation of top officials and threatening foreign humanitarian and peace workers. ++ Prosecuting Bashir would

September 1, 2008 | International Silence Costs Darfuri Lives

The regime in Khartoum threatens the UN humanitarian and peacekeeping presence in Darfur. ++ If UN Security Council does not take action in the face of such outrageous threats, humanitarian organizations will withdraw from the region, leaving millions without help. ++ Support from African, Arab, and Islamic countries makes Khartoum increasingly confident that it will not be held accountable for

August 1, 2008 | Is International Justice the Enemy of Peace?

The key reproach that critics raise against international courts is that “in their effort to do justice, they are obstructing achievement of a more important goal, peace. ” ++ These complaints are expressed especially when heads of state are accused of crimes, as illustrated by the latest example of the charges against Sudanese President al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and genocide in

July 16, 2008 | Meaningless Indictment of the Sudanese President

The International Criminal Court’s resolution to seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar Bashir was hailed as a step towards stopping the bloodshed in Darfur. ++ In fact, this decision will not change anything and is yet another example of what seems to be an inverse correlation between the Western world’s declarations on Darfur and the actions it actually takes. ++ If the

June 17, 2008 | Sudan Flouts its International Obligations

If the international community remains inactive regarding Sudan, its outrage could end up being regarded as hollow. ++ With the help of the International Criminal Court, France, Britain, and the US should pursue a strategy for concomitant peace and justice. ++ To avoid the country’s disintegration, leaders in Khartoum need to be threatened with ICC prosecution. ++ Since there is currently no

March 19, 2008 | The End of NATO Would Leave the EU Powerless

With unilateral pull-outs of the Afghan mission threatening NATO’s existence, Europe’s security is also at risk. ++ EU members lack consensus both on matters of foreign policy and regarding a role for NATO in the future. ++ As a global security actor, the EU should bolster its military capabilities, drop its idealism, and commit itself to real objectives in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

May 15, 2007 | Drima of Sudan: No UN Troops in Darfur Without Consensus

In this letter Drima, a young blogger, voices concern about the calls for immediate UN intervention in Darfur by The Save Darfur Coaltition, 2007 . Although Drima, an Afro-Arab Sudanese citizen, appreciates the work of the coalition, he reminds us that many people, both inside and outside of Sudan, oppose UN military involvement in Darfur without the

April 20, 2007 | Daniel Allot on Western Impotence in Darfur

Efforts to solve the Darfur conflict continually follow the same fruitless pattern, writes Daniel Allot of The Weekly Standard:

1. The West pressures the Sudanese government to stop violations, while threatening sanctions.
2. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir promises to meet the demands.
3. The Sudanese government reneges on its promises without repercussions.

The result: Khartoum no