What have we learned from Rwanda?

"As always, [U.S. public officials] looked to op-ed pages of elite journals, popular protest, and congressional noise to gauge public interest. No group or groups in the United States made Clinton administration decisionmakers feel or fear that they would pay a political price for doing nothing to save Rwandans," writes Samantha Power in A Problem from Hell.

This is why we must remind our elected officials in light of another genocide, so they may not cite the absence of public support as grounds of inaction. There is indeed something we can do.

By making noise, we can increase their political cost of inaction.

First of all, the government of Sudan uses foreign revenue to fund genocide. Up to 80 percent of oil revenue supports the Sudanese military.

Duke, alongside many American universities, has withdrawn all direct investment from companies complicit in genocide, which are largely oil, mining and arms industries.

Now it is time for Congress to allow targeted divestment as well. Introduced March 8, the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (Senate Bill S.831) would allow state and local governments to divest state funds from businesses complicit in genocide.

Secondly, our government must also enforce implementation of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act passed in 2006. This involves freezing the assets of war criminals and genocidaires, as well as denying entry to U.S. ports all cargo ships and oil tankers associated with the armed forces of Sudan.

Lastly, an increased U.S. contribution to the African Union is critical to expanding and bolstering the peacekeeping force.

Duke Darfur Coalition