Research Group Advocates Targeted Sanctions Against Sudan
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Friday, October 13, 2006
Tough sanctions should be imposed on Sudan to force its government to allow a major U.N. peacekeeping mission into the troubled region of Darfur, a leading research organization recommended in a report issued yesterday.
The International Crisis Group noted that international diplomatic efforts had failed to persuade Sudan to disarm the Janjaweed militia and that a new approach was necessary to prevent more bloodshed.
"Unless concerted action is taken against the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Khartoum will continue its military campaign, with deadly consequences for civilians, while paying only lip service to its many promises to disarm its Janjaweed militias and otherwise cooperate," the report said.
The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed have mounted a bloody military campaign against civilians suspected of supporting Darfur rebel groups. Since war broke out in 2003, violence and disease have left as many as 450,000 people dead, and 2 million have been displaced.
The report suggested targeted sanctions against key figures in the National Congress party, a probe into the offshore accounts of Sudanese businesses, enhanced divestment drives, the freezing of assets, travel bans, and limited measures aimed at the country's petroleum sector, including barring investment and technical support and expertise.
The organization also suggested a no-fly zone over Darfur enforced by French and U.S. forces, with NATO backing.
In August, the Security Council authorized a U.N. mission of as many as 22,500 military and police personnel to replace an understaffed African Union force in Darfur, but Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has rejected that plan. The African Union has extended its Darfur mandate until the end of the year, with U.N. logistical and material support.
This week, 174 members of Congress signed a letter urging the Arab League to prod Sudan into accepting the U.N. deployment. The effort, led by Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House International Relations subcommittee on Africa, global human rights and international operations, called on the Arab League to use its "significant influence over Sudan" as a member of the organization to "protect the vulnerable citizens of Darfur and restore the peace process."
