U.N makes steps toward justice in Sudan, but much more work looms ahead.

For all those who have followed the constant inactivity of the United Nations in relation to genocidal acts committed by hateful régimes such as genocide perpetrators in Rwanda, Bosnia, Congo, Sierra Leon, Ethiopia, Sudan and Burma, this week’s news of action being taken against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir should come as welcome news.

The International Criminal Court, which was which is indirectly related to the UN, called the decision one that basically has to be done, and leading prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said that:

"I am a prosecutor doing a judicial case," he said. "In the camps, al-Bashir's forces kill the men and rape the women. He wants to end the history of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa people. I don't have the luxury to look away. I have evidence."

Comments by Save Darfur President Jerry Fowler sum up the emotions and mixed relief based upon the ICC and UN's Monday decision:

"Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo's charges against al-Bashir underscore the need for the U.N. Security Council to finally act decisively with a comprehensive strategy for Sudan," said Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition." (From Associated Press)


For me personally there is definitely an emotion of relief due to the fact that Darfur has been a constant subject in mine as well as many others' prayers in the past few years. The reality of this decision is that there is a long way to go till absolute justice is brought to those suffering in Darfur and various other areas in Sudan. There will probably be a lot more death's to come, probably due to the ruling parties retaliation to the ICC's charges. Aide will be cut off due to the statement made in Khartoum by official’s stating that they "cannot guarantee the safety of UN workers".

Continue to pray for justice to be brought to these people.

In 2004, a top United Nations official in Khartoum, Mukesh Kapilla, courageously compared the butchery in Darfur to the organized slaughter of 800,000 Rwandans 10 years earlier. He said: "I was present in Rwanda at the time of the genocide, and I've seen many other situations around the world, and I am totally shocked at what is going on in Darfur," he told a BBC radio program. "This is ethnic cleansing; this is the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, and I don't know why the world isn't doing more about it." (Excerpt taken from "Not On Our Watch: The mission to end genocide in Darfur and beyond.")

So many times when these types of things have happened the world has looked away. This time pray that we wouldn't shield our eyes. Pray that we would not just talk about justice but actually stand for it.