As transition continues, we're going to see various advocacy groups try to make their mark on policy. One attempt that ended up in my in-box today came from a coalition of anti-genocide groups. This smart open letter to president-elect Obama on Darfur policy [pdf] puts the state of play in that region in good context and offers workable action items for policymakers to pursue. It's going to be interesting to see what Obama does on this critical issue. I don't expect, frankly, his administration to get out on front on the problem, especially given everything else on his plate. But the letter provides some good advice on how he should do it, and a good model for other organizations that want to lobby during the transition.
The transition team should undertake the following before the new president takes office on January 20:
- Identify the senior official who will own this issue so that individual can begin working as rapidly as possible.
- Develop a practical and escalating menu of options for exerting leverage on the government of Sudan and rebel movements to create an environment conducive to credible negotiations.
- Task relevant agencies, including the Pentagon and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, to explore direct ways to make ongoing civilian protection efforts more effective, including steps to make UNAMID more robust and capable and to enforce a ban on offensive military flights.
- Identify foreign service officers to staff a diplomatic cell that will be deployed to the region to work the issues around the clock in the manner they deserve.
- Identify two senior diplomats experienced in peacemaking to be the deputies to the president’s special envoy, one for Darfur and the other for the CPA.
- Reach out to interested parties with leverage in Sudan and the region, especially China, the United Kingdom, France, and key African countries, to coordinate efforts on the peace surge, protection of civilians, and accountability.
The really key question is whether an Obama administration will support a no-fly zone in Darfur, which is the most concrete and proactive step forward that the United States could take in dealing with the situation.
--Tim Fernholz
