Southern Sudan has oil. There has been a civil war, between Arab/Muslim north and African Animist south, in southern Sudan since the 1970s. The current conflict differs in that large scale displacement of people has impacted severely on Sudan and neighbouring Chad economically. The international community is involved in relief efforts. Non-Government Organisation (NGO) personnel have been attacked by militias and require international peacekeeping protection to carry out elief work.

The black African population in the south of Sudan have been subjected to a 4 year pogrom by the Arab dominated government of Khartoum, Sudan. Sudan translates as the 'country of the black people'.

The Sudanese government are active participants in the displacement of 2.5 million people and the killing of 200,000 others in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Janjaweed attack South Sudanese villages on horseback or camel immediately after the Sudanese Air Force bomb and strafe the villagers. Rape is widely reported.

This terror campaign coincided with the invasion of Iraq deflecting the UN and the international community to firmly deal with the intransigence of the Sudanese government. The UN waits, watches and ultimately hesitates just as they did in dealing with the crisis in Rwanda. Within 9 weeks, 800,000 Hutus were slaughtered by the dominant Tutsi. The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo today harbours militant Tutsi in the Lake Kivu region where ethnic tensions are simmering. Conflicts spread.

The UN Security Council resolution 1769 ensures this Arab-African conflict will be monitored by a 26,000 man United Nations African Union peace keeping force until June 2008. This force has not been fully deployed. Many celebrities, including US actor George Clooney, pointed out that an extension to the June mandate is urgently required. The UN deliberates and people suffer. The delayed deployment was frustrated by the Sudanese government insisting on an all Asian, Muslim, peace keeping force. This is Sudanese government obstruction.

The Sudanese conflict has spread to neighbouring Chad. President Issey Debele of French speaking Chad was almost captured by Chadian rebels in a recent assault on the capital N'Djamena. France deployed 1,500 troops to Chad which will be supported by 400 Irish UN troops. The EU Rapid reaction Force took 4 months to deploy. Should the EU RRF be rnamed the EU SDF (Slow Deployment Force)? The Janjaweed, displaced from Sudan, by UN troops, are attacking African villages in eastern Chad. Conflicts spread. France is not entirely neutral, fully supporting its former colony against constant Chadian rebel group assaults. President Debele is most unpopular.

There are stories of nomadic desert tribes prizing the beauty of Darfurian women. This rumour is no excuse for the reprehensible treatment of these refugees in 2008.

The international community must intervene to protect the innocent. The world cannot stand by, now is the time for action!

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