The reviews have come in about President Obama’s Ghana speech this last weekend. Nicholas Kristof wrote (on his Facebook Page, of all places):
“I liked Obama’s speech in Ghana. He emphasized the need for good governance rather than excuses — while acknowledging that the excuses have some validity — and pounded away on corruption. He also mentioned Darfur, Congo, malaria and maternal mortality, as well as human trafficking. I just wish he had said a bit more about Sudan, especially the risk of renewed North-South war.”
A number of pundits have applauded President Obama’s speech for its tough-love messages. Good governance, a commitment to political transparency and openness, a courage to confront regional corruption and violence, wherever they may occur or persist — no doubt, the President hit the right notes and the big themes.
However, the speech was ultimately a disappointment to the Sudan advocacy movement. President Obama did mention Darfur twice:
“We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in the Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. And all of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.”
“America has a responsibility to work with you as a partner to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there’s a genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems — they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response.”
What’s missing here is a strong and clear statement of action. For months now, the Sudan movement has called on President Obama to unroll and execute against a real plan to stop the genocide in Darfur as well as implement and strengthen the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. And the movement in large part has called on President Obama to focus on sticks — including targeted multilateral sanctions and military pressure — in order to end the gross impunity that the Sudanese government continues to enjoy.
Unfortunately, President Obama failed to present anything resembling a substantive Sudan policy in his Ghana speech. One might argue that this was not the right forum for outlining policy. But we disagree. Obama called the situation in Western Sudan genocide during his speech…if he really did mean to fully acknowledge the gravity of what he was describing, he should have told his audience of African leaders how exactly the United States was going to stop the worst crime known to human beings. Count the Ghana speech as a huge missed opportunity.
