On September 21st, 2004, President George W. Bush declared that “the world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government has concluded are genocide.” After his historical remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, the President pledged to do everything in his power to ensure that genocide would not be perpetuated on his watch. Yet, over three years after this declaration, genocide continues in Darfur. The President has not fulfilled this promise.

The Bush Administration has committed a great deal of time and energy to ending violent conflict in Sudan. The US played a key role in negotiating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, ending a two decade long civil war between Southern Sudan and the Government of Sudan, and provides hundreds of millions of dollars to humanitarian relief in the Darfur region. Despite these efforts, the situation in Sudan has regressed over the course of the past year. In his last year in office, President Bush can, and must, make ending the atrocities in Sudan a much higher priority.

The Genocide Intervention Network has outlined the four-part policy framework President Bush must follow in order to end the genocide and help bring peace to Sudan: (1) Stick to his promises; (2) Enforce UNAMID (3) All-Sudan Solution, and (4) Lobby China, or S.E.A.L. (Read more about these policies [0].)

President Bush's efforts thus far, while admirable, will not be successful unless change occurs on the ground in Sudan. If in the next year significant progress is not made to end the genocide and secure peace, all of the President’s strong words and encouraging actions will be forgotten. All that will be remembered is that genocide took place on his watch. This challenge for the President also presents a great opportunity. It is a unique chance to reverse America’s historical pattern of inaction in the face of genocide and carve out a legacy of strong action to end the world’s worst crime and bring peace to Sudan.

The Genocide Intervention Network will work over the coming months to make President Bush seize this unique opportunity. We will settle for nothing less than a legacy of peace in Sudan.

Download our Executive Legacy Campaign one-pager [0].