Jim Moore’s blog: Innovation, Strategy, Public Policy

Dave Winer has convinced me that an effective information community must be open to the views of its opponents and others with differing views from its core members. This is why I have encouraged contributions from both American liberals and conservatives, for example, in order that we can all be as open and informed as possible. The test of this point of view comes when you come up against a really well-informed person who holds a fundamentally different point of view on the situation at hand. That condition has now emerged on the web in regard to Darfur and Sudan, with a new web site and an entry in Wikipedia.

It is the strong view of Passion of the Present that the current situation in Darfur is (1) a genocide, (2) overwhelmingly caused, maintained and directed by the Sudanese government leaders, and (3) can only be addressed by outside help that can effectively defend the victims and counter the continual (and sophisticated) misinformation generated by the Sudanese government. Thus the prescription is to pour in more and more “outside medicine” to dampen the conflict and rebuild society–aid groups, protective forces, observers, monitors, outside visits by leaders of other nations, and AU peacekeepers if possible.

There is of course another side, that says the situation is (1) a “war” between rebels and the government, with unfortunate human rights abuses by both sides, (2) caused, maintained and directed by both the Darfur rebels and the government–though with the government having the upper hand because of having more resources–and now exacerbated by “outside forces” such as the United States and the west, and (3) that the answer to the conflict must come from within Sudan, by blocking out the outside forces, damping down the rebel actions, and seeking within an integrated Sudanese government a long-term solution that preserves the government but shares power more equitably. The prescription from this point of view is to keep out the outsiders, except those that are carefully vetted and controlled by the government so as not to be “divisive”–and to focus on restoring government control in Darfur, and extending this government control to the local level, through “governing councils” and the like.

These two views are able to marshall facts on their sides, though I believe that the vast preponderance of objective outside information supports the first view, and bringing in the outside world.

It was inevitable that the entire spectrum of views on Sudan would eventually be represented in the blogosphere, and now there is a new actor on the scene who supports view number two. His name is Ali B. Ali-Dinar, and he is at the University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center.

He seems to have extensive knowledge of the history and politics of Sudan. He has constructed both an information website with about 50 external links called “Darfur Information Center” and–more powerfully–seems to be the source for an extensive Wikipedia entry on the “Darfur conflict.” Here is his “about” page:

About “Darfur Information Center”

With the current political violence in Darfur, and the involvement of various political parties and ethnicities, it’s important to a have a comprehensive source that serves as a gateway for the plethora of news on Darfur, and at the same time to have educational and advocacy purposes. The main objectives of Darfur Information Center is to achieve the following:

- Provide balanced views and news about the current events in Darfur.
- Provide general information about Darfur history, culture, geography, for Sudanese and non-Sudanese.
- Serve as an advocacy organization that promotes peaceful co-existences between various ethnic groups of Darfur.
- Expose the atrocities and human rights abuses committed by the Sudanese government, and various militia groups.
- Provide political solutions for the current political turmoil in Darfur within a unified Sudan.

With all the news of the current violence, I believe the ingredients for peaceful co-existence are greater than the divisive elements exacerbated by outside forces for their own external gains.

Founder: CV
Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
African Studies Center
3624 Market Street, Suite 1SD
Philadelphia, PA 19104
USA

E-mail: darfur@darfurinfo.org