The Executive Legacy: S.E.A.L.

President Bush has worked to broker peace in Sudan, but genocide in the Darfur region continues. With only a year remaining in his presidency, Sudan is a legacy issue for President Bush, as there is much, much more he can do to end the genocide.

We are calling on President Bush to do the following:

Stick to his Promises

President Bush's actions with respect to Darfur have not always matched his words. Although he has signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act into law, the President has yet to implement all of its provisions. The President must enforce the law by prohibiting any and all federal contracts with worst offending companies. In addition, the Administration has called on the United Nations to impose targeted sanctions against individuals obstructing peace in Sudan but has not made good on his promise to pursue them. The President must immediately introduce a resolution to the United Nations Security Council that mandates international sanctions on all agents obstructing the deployment of UNAMID and the Darfur Peace Process.

In 2005 the Bush Administration facilitated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended Africa's longest civil war, the conflict between the Government of Sudan and Southern rebels. Unfortunately, despite the promises of the Bush administration, US attention has drifted away and in the intervening years the peace has been seriously threatened. It is imperative that President Bush makes good on his promise to facilitate the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). He can do this by reconvening the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in order to reassess the progress of the CPA.

Enforce UNAMID

President Bush acted boldly last summer when he led the United Nations to pass Resolution 1769, authorizing the deployment of a 26,000 member peacekeeping force to Darfur. Regrettably, Sudanese Government obstructionism and a lack of will on the part of international donors have crippled the implementation of Resolution 1769 to the point where few UN troops have been deployed even six months after the resolution was passed. Worse still, Sudanese government attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers have demonstrated the current inability of the force to defend itself, let alone Darfuri civilians.

President Bush must do everything in his power to financially, logistically, and diplomatically support UNAMID deployment. He can do this by authorizing funds for American allies to donate helicopters, continue to offer air transport for UNAMID deployment, and support UNAMID commanders through tabletop contingency planning, or war games.

Apply an All-Sudan Solution

In December 2007, President Bush appointed Ambassador Richard Williamson to the position. The President must work closely with Ambassador Williamson to employ more coordinated, forceful, and comprehensive diplomacy with the various actors in Sudan.

This should include equipping Ambassador Williamson with full-time CPA and Darfur deputies and field teams that have a full-time presence in Sudan. Moreover, real diplomacy means working with our allies and other important countries to bring peace to Sudan. The President should ensure that US efforts are coordinated with those of France, Britain and China.

Lobby China

Activists have played a huge role in convincing the US Congress to encourage positive action on the part of the Chinese towards peace in Sudan. Despite some success, however, the current Chinese policy towards the country leaves much to be desired. President Bush must reinforce Congress in using all economic and political tools available to encourage positive and meaningful Chinese engagement with the government in Khartoum.