Background
Every state have their own goals and ambitions, it is called as national interests. The state pursuit national interest with national power. In this term national power means that the state use their power such as economy, political, and also military to get its national interest. As we know the United States have big national power to get its interest. Through the global politics The U.S try to make other state want to give what The U.S interested, no exception in Sudan, especially the involvement of the U.S in Darfur War.
Sudan and the U.S. have a long history in their relation, starting in 1956, when the U.S. recognized independence of Sudan from the United Kingdom. In 1997, the U.S. imposed financial sanctions against Sudan due to its support for international terrorism. When Sudan was in conflict condition, especially racial war in Darfur, the U.S. help solved this problem with peace agreement. But in 2007, the U.S imposed new economic sanctions on Sudan in response violence occurring in the Darfur. The U.S take this decision because Sudan government was disregard human right and the fundamental of freedom.
However, relation between both countries its dynamics. Many side argued that the involvement of U.S. in Sudan have several mission that related with U.S interest. Therefore, this article will focus on explaining U.S. mission in Sudan area, especially toward Darfur war case.
U.S. mission toward Sudan : Darfur War Case
Since post cold war the U.S was give their attention on The Middle East, it is because this region have contains 60 percent of oil world. The U.S involved in Middle East conflict to avoid the sphere of influence and sphere of interest from other countries which is opposite with the U.S interest. The U.S realize that U.S. its dependence on imported oil from the Middle East. The U.S. National Security Council was said that the U.S. policy is to maintain the oil in Middle East in order to remain in the U.S. control (Jatmika, 2014)
The U.S. was involved in several Middle East conflict, including in Sudan region, especially in Darfur War. In early 2003, there is conflict in the remote Sudanese region of Darfur that has led to the death of thousands of people and the displacement of more than two million. The United Nations has described it as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis" and the United States government called it "genocide." This war become hot issue in international world and make many parties give attention to this case. Many country use this situation to control Darfur area. Unfortunately, this involvement of other states have give more tension in Darfur War and make this problem become more “hot”.
As we know U.S. have interest in the Middle East to control the right of U.S to get oil from Middle East. Sudanese regions, Darfur, have big oil source. The U.S take this situation to control oil in this region, because U.S. have interest in energy source. Unfortunately the U.S. unable to control Sudan’s oil policy, the U.S. imperialist government has made every effort to stop its development of this valuable resource. China, on the other hand, has worked with Sudan in providing the technology for exploration, drilling, pumping and the building of a pipeline and buys much of Sudan’s oil. So the U.S. must compete with China to occupy Sudan oil. Toward this “soft competition” the U.S. use their great power to fulfil its interests, the U.S. did not show their interest directly, but through several action and policy to Sudan government.
First, U.S. policy revolves around shutting down the export of oil through sanctions. For over two decades U.S. imperialism supported a separatist movement in the south of Sudan, where oil was originally found (Sara Flounders,2006 ). When a peace agreement was finally negotiated, U.S. attention immediately switched to Darfur in western Sudan.
Second, as the U.S. pecekeepers, the U.S. government feel must to responsible with Darfur war. The U.S. government has a “moral responsibility” to prevent this genocide. The U.S. government supporting efforts to ensure justice, reconciliation, and accountability to solve this conflict. This responsiblity proven by The U.S. poses as a neutral mediator and keeps pressing Khartoum as Sudan central government for more concessions with this conflict. the U.S. also support the African Union work to resolve Darfur case with released Comprehensive Peace Agrrement in 2005.
Third, the U.S. spread rumors that the president of Sudan, Omar Hasan al-Bashir has violated human rights because he has caused thousands people was died in Sudan civil war. Omar Hasan al-Bashir has been arrested by International Criminal Court (ICC) on accusation of against human right that resulted war in Sudan. Omar Hasan al-Bashir was arrested because he was rejected the U.S. assistance and choose to cooperate with the Chinese which is have differences opinion with the U.S.. Not only arrested Omar Hasan al-Bashir, but the U.S. also give economic sanctions with asset freezes, expanding embargo of arms and equipment of oil industry. The U.S also did military offensive attack Darfur in order to maintain the U.S interests.
Conclusion
With these facts it cannot be denied that the U.S. intervention and action to sustain its interest, to still control oil in the Middle East. Actually it is very contradictory that other countries as outsiders should not meddle in the affairs of a country. But the U.S. use their great power to do it.
References:
Flounders, Sara. (2006) The U.S. role in Darfur, Sudan. Workers World Web http://www.workers.org/2006/world/darfur-0608/
Jatmika, Sidik. (2014) Pengantar Studi Kawasan Timur Tengah. Maharsa Publishing House.
Prunier, Gerard. (2005) Darfur : A 21st Century Genocide, Third Edition (Crises in World Politics). Cornell University Press
Vick, Karl. (2001) Oil Money Supercharges Sudan's Civil War. International Herald Tribune
Also see:
US-KSA Relationship : ARAMCO by Noviyanti Soleman
US Strategy to combat Islamic State by Erlina Anhar
US Foreign Policy on Islamic States And The Road Ahead by Yuni Indriyanti
US - Saudi Arabia Relationship by Ibnu Aqsa
Critical Review of United States Democracy Promotion on The Muslim World by Andi M Ibnu Aqil
US – Islamic World Relations “ Obama In Style ” by Ghiffachri Bani