A Clash of Two "High Hopes"

The death of an estimated 300 tribal members in Sudan within a two week span and new investigations of government bombings in Darfur have not stopped the African Union from embracing what the Sudan Tribune calls "upbeat 2007 predictions." Apparently, the AU has "high hopes" to renew its emphasis on mending divisions among political factions and continue to seek UN peacekeeping assistance.

At the same time, Sudanese President Omar Bashir holds high hopes for assuming leadership of the AU. Today begins the African Union Summit, and as of last week, the United States has not take a stance to block a Sudanese AU presidency.

Allowing the Sudanese government to seize such power in Africa will provide Bashir's government with an opportunity to further exploit the international community in his efforts to avoid international peacekeeping troops. The international community can use this opportunity to engage with Sudan and take action to block Bashir from the presidency. It is past time to send Bashir the message that the global community will not tolerate leaders who faciliate and perpetrate genocide. This warning, then, must be followed with consistent and meaningful action.

Nicholas Kristof wrote last week in his op-ed "Carwashes and Genocide" that, according to Bill Richardson, international and student activists are reaching Bashir with explicit intolerance for human rights violations in Darfur. We make Bashir nervous. Can we translate this through our government into action?