This House believes Arab governments couldn't care less about Darfur
Wednesday January 23 2008
MOTION PASSED
by 81% to 19%
Details
The Sudanese government was accused of orchestrating an Arab conspiracy of silence over the conflict in Darfur at the latest Doha Debate held on January 23rd, 2008. The comments were made by Nadim Hasbani, Africa specialist at the International Crisis Group, as he argued for the motion that 'This House believes Arab governments couldn't care less about Darfur.'
“Why don’t we know how many have been killed?” said Nasbani. “Because the Sudanese – with the complicity of Arab governments - have made a very effective media blackout on Darfur.” His co-speaker for the motion was former Governor of Darfur Ahmed Ibrahim Diraige, currently head of the opposition National Redemption Front alliance group of rebels.
Speaking against the motion, the head of the Crisis Management Department in the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sirajuddin Hamid Yousuf, rejected allegations that his government has been involved in the massacres in Darfur, asserting that “no government kills its own people.” He was joined on the opposition side by Zeid Al Sabban, head of the African Affairs division at the Arab League.
The Debate was marked by heated exchanges between the speakers and the audience - which included many Sudanese, some of whom were from Darfur - over Arab attitudes to the conflict that has claimed an estimated 200,000 lives. The Debate concluded with an overwhelming 81% vote in favour of the motion that Arab governments don't care about Darfur.
Watch online
