The Obama administration’s Sudan policy, unveiled last October, laid out a diplomatic strategy based on regular assessments of the situation on the ground across “a variety of indicators of progress or of deepening crisis.” According to the policy, the U.S. would apply either incentives or pressures depending on whether there is progress or backsliding on the ground. Essentially, the parties in Sudan would be held accountable for their actions.
Almost six months later, the promise of accountability and evaluation based on key “benchmarks” has not been met. In a call on the Obama administration to implement its own policy, eight Sudan advocacy organizations, including Enough, released today “Grading the Benchmarks,” a report that assesses whether progress has been made on nine benchmarks crucial to finding peace in Sudan.
This clear assessment of the situation in Sudan reveals backsliding and lack of progress across the board—from the recently held elections, to the Darfur peace process, to the operational environment for humanitarian organizations, and many other issues crucial to preventing renewed violence.
Enough’s Executive Director John Norris noted:
“A clear assessment of the situation on the ground in Sudan reveals a number of disturbing trends and the continued potential for much broader, renewed violence. However, we have yet to see a firm response from the administration despite its promise to bring a new approach to Sudan policy based on deeds, not rhetoric.”
Enough was joined by Humanity United, American Jewish World Service, Genocide Intervention Network, iACT/Stop Genocide Now, Investors Against Genocide, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Save Darfur Coalition to collectively send the message that it’s time for the Obama administration to implement its own policy.
Click here to read the full report.
Photo: A voter registration booth in Juba (Enough/Maggie Fick)