The international peacekeeping effort authorized for Darfur may come unraveled as officials in Sudan continue to block key components of the force necessary for a viable mission. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1769 in July authorizing a 26,000 unit peacekeeping force to protect civilians in Darfur and humanitarian groups operating in the region. The effort is further hampered by the failure of NATO members to supply the peacekeeping forces with military equipment required by the United Nations , African Union hybrid force. The lack of military support by capable nations as well as the demands by the Sudanese government curtailing most of the peacekeeping force's capability suggests the deployment of peacekeepers to Darfur will not make a difference.
The U.N. Undersecretary for Peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, on Nov. 26 suggested that the U.N. backed peacekeeping force in Darfur is facing redeployment if Sudanese officials continue to rein in its military capability. Guehenno asked the Security Council: “Do we move ahead with the deployment of a force that will not make a difference, that will not have the capability to defend itself and that carries the risk of humiliation of the Security Council and the United Nations and tragic failure for the people of Darfur?”
The answer to that question may be a resounding “no.” The U.N/A.U. mission in Darfur faces severe limitations as NATO members refuse to supply the mission with several requests for military equipment, including helicopters used for medevac operations and other humanitarian missions. The failure of NATO members to step into the fray suggests the international concern for Darfur is minimal.
Sudan rejects many of the countries contributing to the hybrid peacekeeping operation, refusing access to the Port of Sudan, refusing to grant humanitarian access to Darfur, refusing night flights over the region and barring the landing of heavy transport aircraft desperately needed to support any peacekeeping force standing a reasonable chance of success. Sudanese officials also made the extraordinary demand of enforcing a blackout of the peacekeeping force's communications when Sudan conducts military operations.
A handicapped peacekeeping force paralleled by a lack of international political will to contribute to the cause of peace in Darfur releases any realistic constraints on the Sudanese to continue its onslaught against its own people. The military blackout means Sudan may continue its actions unfettered. If the Sudanese government refuses most of the measures that stand any chance of relieving the crisis in Darfur and NATO and the international community refuse to provide peacekeeping operations with the support they need, the failure in Darfur may be a failure of peace.
