Egypt Brings Too Little, Too Late

November 11, 2008

Recently topping the headlines on the Sudan issue has been President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt's visit to Khartoum and subsequent discussion with President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan. President Mubarak spoke at length in the discussion about the Qatari Initiative, which seeks to bring all parties to the Sudan conflict, including the Arab League and the African Union, to discuss a definitive peace process. President Mubarak has clearly identified his main point of contention in the issue: he is worried about the River Nile, which flows through Sudan to get to Egypt. The two North African heads of state also spoke about Article 16 of the Rome Statute, a provision of the International Criminal Court that allows the UN Security Council to put prosecutions on hold for one year.

The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is very concerned about what this meeting bodes for the future of the conflict in Darfur. President Mubarak has clearly stalled on the issue of Darfur; he now comes to the table only when the precious Nile is at stake. This highlights the seriousness of the situation in the Sudan; with areas like South Kordofan inflaming into potential conflict zones, a regional leader who has laid silent for decades on the Sudan conflict suddenly springs into action. President Mubarak clearly sees the conflict spreading and possibly endangering the Nile, which serves as Egypt's freshwater and water transit source.

President Mubarak had many opportunities to join the peace effort; it is unfortunate that he chooses to act only now. Damanga has already expressed the concerns of this Arab initiative, the Qatari Initiative, which holds many Al-Bashir sympathizers. In addition, his mention of the ICC provision, which could delay prosecution of Al-Bashir another year, presents a major threat. Damanga firmly believes that the indictment and arrest of Al-Bashir is a pertinent and vital first step towards peace in Darfur and Greater Sudan. Any deferral of the indictment is a postponement of the peace process, and a detriment to the Sudanese people. Mubarak, who has clearly missed his opportunity to restore stability to Sudan, should stand beside the international community in following through with Al-Bashir's indictment for the sake of resolution and cohesion in a wildly destabilized North Africa. Only then can the fractured rebel groups realistically come to the bargaining table and unite the country.