President Obama and Scott Gration in April (White House Photo/Pete Souza)
This morning’s release of the Sudan policy review covered many of the main points outlined in the Blueprint for Peace and our checklist for an effective Sudan strategy.
Most important, the administration’s policy lays out three strategic U.S. objectives:
- A definitive end to conflict, gross human rights abuses, and genocide in Darfur.
- Implementation of the North-South CPA that results in a peaceful post-2011 Sudan, or an orderly path toward two separate and viable states at peace with each other.
- Ensure that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.
The Coalition has long advocated a comprehensive policy approach to resolving Sudan’s crises. Securing peace in Darfur, resolving tensions over the implementation of the CPA, and preventing Sudan from becoming a terrorist safe haven will benefit all Sudanese.
What matters most, however, is effective implementation. This should ensure:
- Incentives should not be provided before there is concrete and lasting progress on resolving Sudan’s interlocking crises, opening political space for Sudanese to determine their future and protecting human rights.
- The U.S. must generate multilateral support for both incentives and pressures.
- We need to see substantial personal involvement from President Obama – for example, he must make Sudan a priority when he goes to China next month.
The policy outlines pressures and incentives, but the Coalition believes that only an evidence-based approach towards evaluating progress on the ground is warranted given the Government of Sudan’s long history of broken promises. The emphasis by the administration on witnessing verifiable progress before providing incentives to the regime is welcome, as is its stated determination to punish those who do not cooperate.
The policy states that “sustained political will to address Sudan’s tough challenges in the international community is sometimes lacking. American leadership is essential to a more effective multilateral approach.” Increased American leadership to build a strong international coalition, such as that was built for the CPA, to address Sudan’s myriad of crises is essential. President Obama, along with Secretary of State Clinton and Special Envoy Gration, must make this a top priority.
On topic of Presidential leadership, the State Department’s policy document highlights the roll of the President’s Special Envoy, Ret. Maj. Gen. Scott Gration. While the Coalition appreciates the efforts made to date by the Special Envoy, he will need to be backed institutionally and internationally by President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and the rest of the Cabinet. The entire administration must make Sudan a higher priority than it has been to date and not leave all responsibility on the Special Envoy’s shoulders.
We will continue to monitor this policy and its implementation. We hope you will join us in doing so, and ensuring that that this policy successfully helps to bring peace to Sudan.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: Darfur, Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Scott Gration, Sudan, Sudan Policy Review, Susan Rice
