Sudan Expulsions
What Do the Expulsions Mean for Darfur's War-Torn Region?
In the last week of August, the Sudanese government expelled three foreign aid workers from the African country.
Three Foreign Workers Expelled From Darfur
In the past week alone, the Sudanese government has expelled three foreign workers from Darfur.
On Wednesday August 22, the government announced its expulsion of the top Canadian diplomat as well as expulsion of the European Commissioner from Darfur.
The third expulsion came Sunday August 26, when CARE’s Country Director Paul Barker was given 72 hours to leave the country.
The government later withdrew the EU’s commissioner immediate expulsion, allowing him to stay in the region until the end of his term, which is later this month.
Personas Non Grata
“Sudan has summoned the envoy of the European Commission and the Canadian Charge d'Affaires and informed them they were considered persona non grata because they interfered in Sudanese affairs,” said Ali al-Sadek, Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, to SUNA news (Sudan’s News Agency).
No other reason was given for the expulsion of the first two foreign workers.
It appears that CARE’s director has been expelled from the region due to an internal email sent last October, outlining dilemmas that may possibly unfold in Darfur and what it could mean for humanitarian workers.
Government officials have claimed the leaked email to be a political analysis, which is deemed inappropriate for aid workers.
Barker told news agencies he felt the email was appropriate and necessary for the safety of aid workers.
“To me, that's a responsible thing to do in terms of ensuring the ongoing safety and well-being of our staff. The people in HAC [Humanitarian Aid Commission] chose to interpret that as political reporting and inappropriate for NGOs,” Barker said, as posted on BBCnews.com.
International Aid Workers Increasingly Unwelcome
The Sudanese Government has been making things increasingly difficult for international aid. The government backed Janjaweed militias continually set up road blocks and ambush aid workers. The government has been making it increasingly more impossible to get visiting visas. And the International community is perpetually dragging its feet though this crisis.
The recent expulsions come just days after a UN report stated that mass rape is being used as a tool of war in Darfur.
UN-AU Hybrid Force
The discharges of these three foreigners can be seen as one more way for the Sudanese Government to control the flow of information. Fewer honest reporters and truthful aid workers, allows the horrors in Darfur another chance to escalate.
In recent months, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has finally accepted the UN-AU Hybrid Force, which is to extend the AU support from a 7,000-strong force to one of 26,000.
After months of back-and-forth, Bashir finalized the deal. Whether or not he follows through with the Hybrid Force plan, the government’s agenda will truly be displayed.
