How Many People Have to Die Before We Care? The Role of the International Community in Darfur

While the humanitarian situation in Darfur—characterized by widespread forced displacement, encampment, and denial of assistance—may not fit the definition of genocide in the traditional sense as embodied in the Genocide Convention, this policy brief makes the case that semantics should not interfere with the international community’s obligation to protect civilians. The responses of various international actors are detailed, with particular attention directed to the reluctance of some actors to get actively involved, before concluding with recommendations for moving forward.

Drawing parallels to the Rwandan genocide, the brief calls for immediate intervention beyond diplomacy, arguing that none of the reasons put forward for limited engagement—ranging from concerns about upsetting the existing peace process to the fear that involvement would weaken the concept of state sovereignty—can justify the failure to prevent genocide in Darfur. In order to force the Sudanese government to stop the violence, the author suggests continued high-level diplomatic pressure, along with an enforced no-fly zone and preparations for possible military intervention.