I have not blogged about the peace agreement in Sudan yet. First, I think any verbal resolution is a great thing. At least for a moment it can knock the line to a new direction, hopefully one of peace. I have heard reports on NPR and CNN that many of the refugees do not even know about the peace agreements, and I have seen interviews with UN folk that discuss the need for peacekeepers in the area to ensure that this peace deal is carried through.
I am excited that the Sudanese government is allowing the UN peacekeeping forces to come in. The UN has had a very bad reputation in Africa over the last couple of years, especially with the sex scandals in Congo and such. I hope that they have learned their lesson.
Bush called the atrocities in Sudan genocide, which I believe is the first time HE has called it such - though when Powell was on his cabinet, it was declared genocide. Better late than never I think.
A commentary that I read from a peace broker in the Southern Sudan conflict said that there were many run-arounds in the process. I suspect that will be the case with Darfur as well, but we can all hope and pray that it will be completely settled.
Once some relative stability is achieved in Darfur, the international community cannot consider Darfur as "case closed". Much will have to be done to reconcile communities, especially Arab and Black communities in the Darfur region and the whole of the country. The issue runs deeper than this 3 year conflict, it is generations old. Reconciliation may need to begin with children as the next generation and the international community must see to it that the next generation can achieve this reconciliation.
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