The UN in Sudan
This was written as a comment to a post on this blog, but it turned out to be so lengthy I thought I would re-post it here. It concerns the news that the UN are to send 10,000 peacekeepers to Southern Sudan.
Tragically, for those who live there, there are two conflicts in Sudan. There has been ongoing conflict between forces in the South of the country and the government for the last 20 years or so. In January, the two sides signed a peace agreement. The UN has decided to send 10,000 peacekeepers to enforce the agreement.
In most respects, this is seperate from the ongoing conflict between the government and the rebels in Darfur, a region in the North West of the country. There's a good map of Sudan here.
The best information I know about concerning the civil war in the South of the country is Douglas Johnson's book "The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars" (see here).
The best commentary I've read on what is happening in Darfur is a piece by Alex de Waal in the London Review of Books from August last year, online here.
Briefly, as with previous conflicts in Africa, the UN is happy enough to send in troops to KEEP an agreed peace, but not to send in troops to intervene in an ongoing conflict. Working out the best course of action is troubling, and there are no easy answers, but it seems to me that a UN force could significantly reduce the level of violence in Darfur.
Searching for info just now, I came across this blog, which looks like a very good source of news and analysis about Sudan and particularly about Darfur.
Tragically, for those who live there, there are two conflicts in Sudan. There has been ongoing conflict between forces in the South of the country and the government for the last 20 years or so. In January, the two sides signed a peace agreement. The UN has decided to send 10,000 peacekeepers to enforce the agreement.
In most respects, this is seperate from the ongoing conflict between the government and the rebels in Darfur, a region in the North West of the country. There's a good map of Sudan here.
The best information I know about concerning the civil war in the South of the country is Douglas Johnson's book "The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars" (see here).
The best commentary I've read on what is happening in Darfur is a piece by Alex de Waal in the London Review of Books from August last year, online here.
Briefly, as with previous conflicts in Africa, the UN is happy enough to send in troops to KEEP an agreed peace, but not to send in troops to intervene in an ongoing conflict. Working out the best course of action is troubling, and there are no easy answers, but it seems to me that a UN force could significantly reduce the level of violence in Darfur.
Searching for info just now, I came across this blog, which looks like a very good source of news and analysis about Sudan and particularly about Darfur.
posted by UK plc at 12:33 PM
2 Comments:
I have studied Africa a great deal and the rest of the world has a history of ignoring what happens in Africa sadly enough. I live in Cote D'Ivoire for a couple of years and now they are split in a civil war as well. Thankfully the French and other African countries have been keeping the peace there but it is fragile.
Sorry, that buddhist blogger is me too. I forgot to sign in and comment under this name.
Post a Comment
<< Home