End bloodbath

THERE was a time when “Save Darfur” was a rallying cry to end one of the cruellest conflicts in Africa. In 2010, the International Criminal Court charged Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, with genocide for his army’s conduct in the rebellious region of Darfur, and the UN deployed a huge peacekeeping force to the region.

None of that made much difference. Sudanese government forces, assisted by nomadic militias known as the janjaweed, continued their “scorched earth” campaign. The ineffective UN force was cut down; Bashir, supported by China and Russia, remained in power and the ICC case was suspended.

And now a report by Amnesty International says a large-scale offensive by Sudanese government forces in the rebel-held Jebel Marra area of Darfur has unleashed a new wave of destruction.

More ominously, Amnesty International interviewed 56 residents of Jebel Marra who said the government forces had used “poisonous smoke”, strongly suggesting chemical weapons.

Sudan’s foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, insists his government does not use chemical weapons, but with access to Jebel Marra severely restricted, Amnesty International said it was unable to collect soil and blood samples to confirm the use of chemicals. Instead, it conducted its investigation by phone and over the internet, and looked at now-released satellite imagery and media reports.

It is sadly easy to conclude from victims’ horrible blisters and sores in photographs provided to the group, and the reports of terrible suffering from the “poisonous smoke”, that chemical weapons were most likely used, adding to the torment in Darfur.

The new allegations of chemical weapons should prompt the UN, the ICC, governments and activists who once chanted “Not on my watch!” in support of the people of Darfur to renew their efforts to end this bloodbath and bring Bashir to justice.