Five weeks into his presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy – the new French premier – hosted an international conference on Darfur in Paris. Among those in attendance was U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleeeza Rice, who spoke of the need for a renewed effort at the crisis in the troubled region in Sudan and its regional effects. The meeting in Paris, however, was not met with universal appeal, as representatives from the African Union peacekeeping regiment did not attend. Representatives from Sudan and neighboring Chad were invited to attend.
The meeting was intended to increase international support for collective action to stop the humanitarian disaster.
