The U.S. government recently announced new economic sanctions and is drafting a UN Security Council resolution to strengthen international pressure on the Sudanese government to address the ongoing crisis in Darfur. In April, John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, discussed his recent trip to Darfur, Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic in an event at the Carnegie Endowment.

Holmes described the successes and challenges of the humanitarian effort, but stressed the importance of a political solution. “The peacekeeping operation itself, even when it’s there in full, is not the solution to the problem. What is needed above all is a political settlement there,” said Holmes. Carnegie President Jessica T. Mathews moderated the event.

Click on link in right column for draft transcript.

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