Human Security, the Responsibility to Protect and the Crisis in Darfur

Abstract

Since 2003, Sudan’s central government has used proxy forces to slaughter thousands of civilians belonging to ethnic groups associated with the conflict in Darfur in the western region of that country. Serious outside pressure would likely be required to change the regime preferences for repression, as Khartoum has concluded that, if unchecked, the uprising would threaten the regime’s survival. The war in Darfur has attracted reactions from the international community that even in some quarters; it has been labeled as genocide. The way Khartoum has handled Darfur’s alleged genocide has also not impressed the international community. The development compelled the International Criminal Court to issue a warrant of arrest on the president for allegedly using the janjaweed militias against the innocent citizens of Darfur. The current conflict is one of the most complex war situations which has defied attempts made by the international community to resolve it. The African Union has been admirably engaged in the Darfur crisis but has ultimately been ineffectual due to poor resources and weak political will. At the same time, Khartoum intransigence and diplomatic protection provided for it by China has blunted the ambitious steps taken by the United Nations Security Council. However, the crisis in Darfur presents the international community with the opportunity of testing its avowed commitment to human security. The introduction of the responsibility to protect principle into the debate on civilian protection gives an added impetus for the international community to act in protection of the Darfurians. This paper attempts to interrogate the applicability of this concept to the resolution of the conflict in Darfur.