Daily Darfur: Peace in Chad Before Peace in Darfur?

An article by Paul Moorcraft, director of the Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis in London, in South Africa's Business Day describes Khartoum's view of the Obama Administration:

"The government in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, regards the Democratic administration with far more suspicion than the outgoing Bush government, which they considered pragmatic. Memories of Bill Clinton's cruise missile attacks on Khartoum still niggle. The Democrats are regarded as hawkish ideologues."

The article goes on to suggest that negotiating a political settle in Chad could have a "domino effect" on the rest of the region, arguing that, while the conflict in Chad "separate from, though related to, the conflict in Darfur," prospects for peace in Darfur are slim without an end to Chad's civil war:

"Chad first, then Darfur: these could be stepping stones to regional political stabilisation. UN peacekeepers can, just, hold the line, for a while."

But ultimately, UN peacekeepers are a stop-gap when "there is no peace to keep."

I disagree with the first part of Moorcraft's conclusion --- that "show trials at The Hague" will only make matters worse. The ICC indictments do not represent the fantasies of a runaway kangaroo court, but rather an attempt to achieve true accountability under our body of international law. But I do agree with the second part:

"President Bush, in a largely unpublicised diplomatic coup, helped to end Sudan's north-south war. Surely President Obama, with all his promise, charisma and concern for Africa, can perform a miracle of multitasking by spearheading a political campaign for a wider integrated settlement.

Now is the time for Obama to lead the drive for peace."

Amen.

UNAMID Shout-Out

It's been a while since I've had one of these: 98 troops from Gambia are on their way, and 800 troops from Thailand will soon be on their way to join the peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Other items of interest...

The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, a Darfur rebel group, traveled to Israel "on his own initiative" and met with a senior Israeli government official while attending a conference. For another dose of my own wild speculation: I wonder if he's attempting to build is own alliances, after the Justice and Equality Movement was the only rebel group invited to talks in Doha? I also imagine that Sudan's vehement anti-Semitic media is having a field day with this, given their penchant for blaming Israel for absolutely everything under the sun.

The Sudanese government is once again encouraging mass public demonstrations in response to the ICC.

People in Khartoum have conflicting views on the ICC.

The Anglican church calls for peace in Darfur.

[Photo: Rebel militia in eastern Chad.]