New School Politics

UN Commits 26,000 Troops to Darfur

Zach | 1 08 2007

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Despite wide disagreement throughout the world, and particularly in the United States, the UN has finally decided to help stop the bloodshed in Darfur. While those without much regard for human life (perhaps Ryan’s post “Darfur: Why I Don’t Give a Damn” best summarizes the perspective of these individuals) continue to emphasize that Darfur is Sudan’s problem to handle, it seems as if the only way the bloodshed will stop is if an international force attempts to impede the progress of the janjaweed. Years of lobbying from organizations like Save Darfur have drawn attention to the genocide. Progress on Capitol Hill has been slow, however, as many politicians believe Americans don’t have the military motives or capabilities to intervene in the African area.

Furthermore, some individuals see it as a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty. The recent UN action, with supplementary troops provided by the African Union, helps the country tame the rising problem. While the force may keep the peace, it’s still important to analyze why Darfur was possible and what can be done in the future to help prevent catastrophes of the similar degree.

Even though the UN’s activity is an encouraging step in the right direction for the conflict, experts say it could be months before the force is capable of completely stopping the violence in the country. The size of the force is another good sign, however, as UN troops stationed in Rwanda during that country’s genocide did little to stop the ensuing massacres.

Cooperation from the central government in Khartoum is critical as the date for deployment approaches. Frequently cited as the source of weapons and air support, Sudan’s government may not be capable of quelling unrest post-peace. When the UN pulls out, it’s important to stabilize the government as well. While “nation building” hasn’t turned out so well in the past and the UN force is by no means an invading force, this should give the world an opportunity to finally make a historically unstable country a model of peace for the rest of Africa. Civil wars in Congo and infighting elsewhere within the continent mean Africa still leaves much to desire before it’s an attractive option for ecnomic enrichment.

Following the peace, the UN should work hand-in-hand with the Sudanese government to ensure that such a blatant violation of human rights does not occur again. Organizations like Save Darfur that once fought for a peacekeeping force to be stationed in Darfur should now shift their attention to overseeing the operation and the continuation of genocide prevention in Darfur and the rest of Africa. The UN and the world have finally taken a step in the right direction, but there remains a marathon to run before Darfur is at peace.