Sudan a critical test for UN security council

THE passing of the deadline set by the UN security council for the Sudan government to disarm the Janjaweed exposes yet again the failures of the international community.

At a farcical ‘disarmament ceremony’ held in Jeneina on August 27, the militia members were given back their guns as soon as the UN special representative had left.

Massive human rights violations including killings, torture, and rape are continuing on an hourly basis. Strengthening the numbers, capacity and resources of international human rights monitors in Darfur is vital but not enough. They must have strong political backing from the African Union and UN if they are to compel the Sudanese government to end these atrocities, and hold them to account for the gross human rights violations committed by its security forces and its militia, the Janjaweed.