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President Obama: Appoint a High-Level Diplomat for Darfur
  1. Signatures
    126 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States
  2. Created By
    Operation Broken Silence
    Memphis, TN
About this Petition Petition Letter
How We Won

Dec 15, 2010

We did it! There is considerable excitement among Darfur activists today after the Obama administration announced the appointment of a senior US diplomat for Darfur, one step closer to the passage and implementation of the Sudan Peace and Stability Act of 2010. Follow Change.org's Human Rights page on Facebook and Twitter for ongoing updates in the campaign.

 

As violence escalates in Darfur alongside rising tensions in south Sudan, there is a renewed need for a permanent, full-time U.S. diplomat to Darfur. Working alongside the diplomatic team negotiating the CPA between north and south Sudan, this diplomat must be someone experienced in African affairs who is willing to help towards a peaceful Sudan. 

The need for a Darfur diplomat comes at a time when nationwide issues and regional security problems are tying regional conflicts together. Peace in south Sudan and Darfur cannot be successfully negotiated separately at different times, as the past several years of violence, genocide, and civil war have proven time and time again. 

The Darfur diplomat must work towards the following:

placing Darfur back into the media spotlight, securing unfettered access for UN peacekeepers and aid workers across Darfur, neutralizing the Lord's Resistance Army by working with regional partners, the United Nations, and the US diplomatic team in south Sudan, ending human rights abuses against civilians in Darfur, ending air assaults and arms shipments into Darfur, bringing all parties to the negotiating table , empowering civil society leaders to work with relief agencies towards developmental aid practices, and increase civil protection by empowering UNAMID with direly needed equipment donations, from the United States and other countries, such as helicopters, intelligence gathering equipment, and additional communication equipment, connecting with other UN peacekeeping mission heads and sharing best practices, and lastly promote justice and accountability in Darfur.

Significant gains must be made soon to ensure Darfur can be stabilized, civilians protected, and rebuilding to begin. 

 

Recent Signatures

President Obama, Please Appoint a High-Level Diplomat for Darfur

Greetings Mr. President,

I am concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in Darfur as the world's attention has turned towards southern Sudan and the final implementations of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). While I remain heavily concerned about the potential for renewed conflict in southern Sudan, now is not a time to forget Darfur.

In the last several weeks, an intense government crackdown in Darfur has led to severe human rights abuses, arms-trafficking violations, large numbers of arrests against civilians, and renewed fighting between government troops/ allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups. The Khartoum regime has once again started to bomb defenseless villages and target water sources as military buildup continues in Jebel Marra and the surrounding regions.

The lack of UN peacekeeping access and humanitarian aid access in Darfur also leaves large numbers of Darfuris at risk and vulnerable to severe human rights violations and military strikes.

Several weeks ago you appointed a senior-level diplomat , Ambassador Princeton Lyman, to help ensure implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. This decision pleases me and the same must be done to ensure civilian protection in Darfur. By appointing a high-level Darfur diplomat to work in tandem with Ambassador Lyman and other U.S. diplomats, the United Nations, regional states, and humanitarian aid groups, the United States can greatly increase our nation's capacity to protect civilians throughout the Darfur region as the clouds of war continue to gather over Sudan.

The Darfur diplomat must work towards the following:

placing Darfur back into the media spotlight, securing unfettered access for UN peacekeepers and aid workers across Darfur, neutralizing the Lord's Resistance Army by working with regional partners, the United Nations, and the US diplomatic team in south Sudan, ending human rights abuses against civilians in Darfur, ending air assaults and arms shipments into Darfur, bringing all parties to the negotiating table , empowering civil society leaders to work with relief agencies towards developmental aid practices, and increase civil protection by empowering UNAMID with direly needed equipment donations, from the United States and other countries, such as helicopters, intelligence gathering equipment, and additional communication equipment, connecting with other UN peacekeeping mission heads and sharing best practices, and lastly promote justice and accountability in Darfur.

Mr. President, you have long been an advocate for civilian protection, genocide prevention, and for the people of Darfur. Please use the power you now hold as President to turn your advocacy and my own into improvement on the ground for people across Darfur. Please appoint a high-level diplomat to Darfur to achieve this as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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