South Kordofan: The Next Case for R2P?
Given the nature of violence perpetrated against innocent civilians and prolonged hostility between Sudan and South Sudan, it is imperative that the UN Security Council takes stock of the situation and acts immediately. While the two parties to the conflict have failed to reach an amicable solution, it is but logical for the international community to step in, assume the responsibility to intervene and protect the rights of civilians. The lack of a unified voice against the atrocities committed could prove to be an aberration of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). One of the key aspects of R2P is the ‘responsibility to react’ and the Council has to not only react by condemning the escalation of conflicts, but also take up the ‘responsibility to prevent’ further escalation into war. However, this R2P should not be misconceived as synonymous with military intervention or humanitarian intervention. Instead, the Council has to explore all plausible scenarios in bringing both governments to the negotiating table and engage them in dialogue.
