Sudan threatened with sanctions over 'genocide'

The European Union has joined the US in threatening sanctions against Sudan, hoping to pressure the African country’s government to end the conflict in its western region of Darfur.

Citing “grave concern” at reports of “massive human rights violations” that some have called genocide, EU ministers gathering for a meeting today in Brussels were hoping to push Sudan’s government and rebel groups to resume peace talks as well as improve access for relief groups.

“It’s almost certain the international community will take further measures if this situation does not improve,” Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said late on Saturday after meeting his Sudanese counterpart, Mustafa Osman Ismail.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also backed the threat of UN sanctions unless Sudan disarms Arab militias responsible for killings in Darfur – a threat first made last week by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

“The Sudanese government has the duty to guarantee people’s security and the responsibility of bringing the militias before the courts and taking their weapons to end the violence,” Fischer told ZDF television Sunday after talking by phone with Powell.

The violence began 15 months ago when two rebel groups from Darfur’s African tribes took up arms in a struggle over land and resources with Arab countrymen. Arab militias known as Janjaweed then began a brutal campaign to drive out the black Africans.

Up to 30,000 people, most of them black Africans, have been killed and more than 1 million people have fled their homes. Some 2.2 million are in urgent need of food or medical attention.

The 25-nation EU, the US and humanitarian groups have accused the Sudanese government of backing the militias – a claim it denies.

The EU wants a political solution to the crisis. Peace talks in Ethiopia last week, however, ended early when Darfur’s rebel groups walked out, insisting Sudan’s government first honour the terms of previous peace agreements.

After meeting Bot in The Hague, Netherlands, Ismail insisted his country would prosecute the militias but again denied the attacks amounted to genocide.

The US Congress last week labelled them as such, but African Union leaders disagreed.

Bot, who will chair today’s meeting, said he also would push for increased reconstruction aid for Darfur “so that we can create the situation where refugees can make a livelihood and feel secure when they return.”