16 December 2004

(United States is largest humanitarian donor, Amb. Ranneberger says)

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Ambassador Michael Ranneberger told members of the American public interested in foreign affairs that the depth and breadth of U.S. efforts "to resolve the crisis in Darfur highlight a major collaborative effort between the United States, our allies, and African leaders."

The former U.S. ambassador to Mali, now principal assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told the Providence, Rhode Island, Committee on Foreign Relations December 9, "It is an intensive multilateral initiative that has been too little recognized as these issues have become a significant subject of domestic debate.

"The United States has focused tremendous efforts and resources on Darfur. The U.S. has made Darfur one of its highest foreign policy priorities ... [and] is the largest humanitarian donor, having provided almost $400 million in aid," he added.

However, with 70,000 already dead from disease and malnutrition and countless refugees fleeing to Chad, the situation in Darfur "remains grave" and "much more must be done," he said.

Ranneberger was invited to address the group of interested citizens by committee member William Twaddell, a retired Foreign Service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Nigeria in the late 1990s.

Speaking by phone from his home in Rhode Island, Twaddell told the Washington File: "We are just a like-minded group of folks interested in foreign affairs. We get a speaker in about once a month. We've had the Japanese representative to the United Nations, as well as people working at the foreign consulates in Boston. Actually, you'll find groups like us all over the United States."

In a copy of the speech he provided the Washington File, Ranneberger said the full enormity of the crisis in Darfur began to sink in February when he and a team of senior U.S. government officials visited the region. "Flying over Darfur and seeing mile after mile of scorched earth and villages in flames was a sobering experience and highlighted the horrendous nature of the crisis," he said.

He continued: "As soon as the dimensions of what was happening in Darfur became clear, the U.S. acted. We were the first country to insist that the Darfur crisis be brought before the UNSC [United Nations Security Council]. The president spoke out publicly. We dramatically increased humanitarian assistance. We brokered a cease-fire agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebels."

In addition, Ranneberger said, "Secretary Powell visited Darfur in June and demanded that the Sudanese government cease support for the Arab 'Jingaweit' militias and stop the violence [in Darfur]. He conveyed a specific list of steps for the Government of Sudan to take. When the GOS did not comply, the United States sponsored two resolutions in the UNSC calling for imposition of punitive measures if the violence did not cease," Ranneberger told the Providence audience.

"There are literally daily calls with officials of the European Union and key member states to coordinate support for African Union efforts in Darfur, and for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. We have welcomed into this collaborative effort the Australians, Japanese, Egyptians, and other interested countries, The State Department official continued.

Ranneberger concluded: "The vision of a unified, democratic, prosperous Sudan that fully respects human rights would have been unthinkable until very recently. Responsibility for the future of Sudan rests with Sudanese leaders -- and importantly their African counterparts as well. But they and the long-suffering people of Sudan will need our support to rebuild their war-ravaged country.

"The American people should know that we are intensively engaged ... [and] there is reason to be hopeful."