When Neutrality is a Sin: The Darfur Crisis and the Crisis of Humanitarian Intervention in Sudan

The violent conflict that erupted in Darfur, Western Sudan, in 2003 has led to grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law, particularly by militias backed by the Government of Sudan (GoS). This article argues that such grave crimes, which are continuing, justify humanitarian military intervention, as diplomacy has failed to prize the GoS into halting the mayhem. It denounces the apparent posture of neutrality by the international community to these atrocities, stressing that such neutrality helps the killers and not the victims. The article also reflects on the continuing security challenges that face Africa and proffer suggestions towards confronting them.