GOAL chief executive slams UN approach to Darfur
The chief executive of Irish aid agency GOAL has launched a scathing attack on the United Nations for failing to describe the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan as genocide.
The region has been wracked by a civil war over the past two years between government forces, Arab militias and local rebel groups fighting for independence or autonomy.
In a report published today, a UN commission investigating the situation concluded that the government and the Arab militias had committed widespread and systematic abuses against civilians that could amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
However, it stopped short of describing the situation as genocide, which would legally require the United Nations to intervene.
This has angered GOAL chief executive John O'Shea, who claimed today the UN's failure to use the word genocide was linked to its alleged fear of facing up to China, which has oil interests in Sudan.
