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Report on Darfur to United Nations

Francis M. Deng
Francis M. Deng Former Brookings Expert

June 1, 2004

Dr. Francis M. Deng the Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons conducted a mission to Darfur in July 2004. This was Dr. Deng’s final mission in his capacity as Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons.

In the report, Deng makes recommendations on security and civilian protection; humanitarian assistance; and addressing the political dimension of the conflict. The report calls for urgent attention to the needs of Darfur’s internally displaced persons (IDPs), now estimated to number some 1.6 million. It calls for increased humanitarian access and funding. It argues that because the Government earlier relied on the Janjaweed militia to suppress the rebellion of local groups, it cannot be entirely relied on to disarm the Janjaweed. Consequently, the role of the international community through the African Union is needed in disarming or otherwise neutralizing the Janjaweed.

The report advocates for addressing the root causes of the multiple crises in the Sudan in order to achieve peace in Darfur. Bringing the negotiations between the Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to a speedy conclusion would significantly enhance the prospects of resolving the crisis in Darfur as well as the Sudan’s other regional conflicts, and alleviating the suffering of the Sudan’s 5 million internally displaced persons.

The report will be considered by the UN Commission on Human Rights at its 2005 session.