Tougher US sanctions are now in place against Sudan on the Darfur crises. Will these sanctions really lead to any visible and positive change on the ground is any body’s guess. Are there no solutions to the crisis which has once again shocked our conscience and represents a moral challenge which the world particularly United States, the greatest champion of human rights cannot ignore.

Real Causes of Crises

No solution can be found until and unless, we appreciate the real cause of any problem. The major cause of the Darfur conflict is the failure of traditional systems for the allocation of land and water resources and the traditional and indigenous means of peaceful settlement of such disputes. As the ability of local communities to cope with drought and famine declined in last 25 years or so, and the capacity of their traditional systems of conflict resolution such as mediation over rapidly diminishing resources became overwhelmed, opportunistic leaders not only in Sudan but also elsewhere in Africa took full advantage of the situation. British masters who had introduced the system of “native administrators” with powers to allocate land are also responsible for this crises. Continuance of a similar system with growing armament and the polarization of ethnic identities, traditional conflicts acquired drastically different dimensions and scale.

Five Options

1. United States led United Nations force invading Sudan just like 1991 first gulf war. The humanitarian crises in Darfur does call for such a proactive solution. We must ensure that shameful inaction in Rwanda’s is not repeated in Darfur. United Nations Charter does permit such a collective action. Let America’s huge military power be used for a just cause just for a change. This will also restore some of her lost prestige.

2. United Nations Peace-Keeping force should immediately ensure lasting cease fire and quickly disarm government supported militia. To ensure respectability for such a force, it should be led by an African nation.

3. Right of self- Determination may be conceded though the same has not been explicitly demanded so far but it will surely put lot of pressure on the government of Sudan.

4. Granting Substantive Autonomy to black Arabs in terms of land, other resources etc and provision of adequate infrastructural facilities like schools and hospitals.

5. Immediate Cease fire under the supervision of African Union, investigations as to the fixing of the responsibility for the Darfur genocide by the International Criminal Court and United Nations supervised referendum to ascertain people’s wishes in Darfur to solve this crises. The failure of African Union in ensuring any real peace so far makes this option less attractive. Simultaneously it should be ensured that China’s support to Sudan in terms of investment etc. immediately comes to an end which is indeed a huge diplomatic task.