By: Kylie Edmundson

The Historical Commission of Inquiry of 2005 (COI) is meeting to discuss the western region of Sudan, known as Darfur, to determine if genocide has occured. Genocide is a serious accusation, and labeling the conflict as such may result in many changes throughout the region. The Commissioners are working to gather as much information as possible, as results of the inquiry will likely leave a lasting impact in the region. 

Darfur has been caught in conflict since 2003, when the Second Sudanese Civil War began. The Commissioners gather information from the United States and the country of Chad to aid their meetings. After, they plan to travel closer to the conflict to aid. Darfur has become a focal point of conflict in the ongoing Second Sudanese Civil War. Following violence between Janjaweed militia groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement, and the Justice and Equality Movement, the United Nations Security Council has worked for peace in the region, alongside the African Union. 

On 18 September 2004, the UNSC published Resolution 1564 requesting a Commission of Inquiry to “investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Darfur by all parties, to determine also whether or not acts of genocide have occurred and to identify the perpetrators of such violations with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable” (sect. 12). These inquiries are what the Commission of Inquiry will be working toward answering during their travel throughout Sudan and Chad.

When questioned about the choice of locations for travel, Commissioner Jack McIrvin of India said, “The Commission is planning on taking an investigative trip to the northern and western regions of Sudan to consult the Sudanese government over the situation in Darfur.” Not only does the Commission plan on traveling to Sudan, but Commissioner McIrvin further said, “Following the government of Chad’s plea to the Commission to denote the situation in Darfur as a genocide, the Commission is planning on sending a staff envoy to Chad to investigate Sudanese refugee responses to the situation.” Both of these efforts allow the Commissioners to speak with both the Sudanese government and the refugees from Darfur to gather information to aid their report. 

The COI’s search for as many details as possible also has led them to request written reports about the situation in Darfur from both the United States and Chad. Commissioners are planning to gather more information through these reports and hope to use the information to assist in determining if a genocide is occuring in Darfur.

Not only will information be brought in from these sources, but the COI also requested an expert on the international laws of genocide to speak in person with the Comission and assist in their determining of the definition of genocide, and what this means for Darfur. The reports requested from the United States and Chad, as well as the upcoming interview with the expert on international law and genocide, will help the COI to determine what their upcoming visits will look like as they prepare to travel to Khartoum.