Sudan: The Importance of U.S. Relations

Another round of peace talks to resolve the conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan began June 10 in Abuja, Nigeria. The day before, NATO defense ministers agreed to help airlift more African Union troops into Darfur, and on June 7, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into crimes in the region. Although newsworthy, these events pale in comparison to the meeting that took place June 7 between former rebel leader (and soon to be Vice President) John Garang and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.