Despite its accusations of “genocide” in Darfur and an outbreak of violence in oil-rich Abyei, the US is negotiating with Sudan to normalize diplomatic relations.  Washington says its aim is to broker peace in Darfur, however what lies at stake are investment opportunities in Sudan’s oil sector as well as Sudan’s continued cooperation with the CIA on counter-terrorism measures in the region.

Analysis

US President George W. Bush has long accused Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of “genocide” in Darfur, however US Special Envoy Richard Williamson’s visit to Khartoum this week follows a series of private meetings between senior Bush administration officials and the Sudanese president to normalize US-Sudan relations before President Bush leaves office in January 2009.

Although these activities run counter to Bush’s recent statement that diplomacy with tyrants and dictators is tantamount to appeasement, thus underscoring Washington’s hypocrisy, Washington claims that it only seeks to end the violence in Darfur, one of its conditions for rapprochement.  However, economic and security trends indicate that Washington’s underlying aim is to enable investment opportunities in Sudan’s oil sector and secure Sudan’s continued cooperation with the CIA in its ongoing “war on terror”.